Moose Jaw Express May 31st, 2023

A project by a pair of Vanier Collegiate students will aim to raise funds for Kidsport while testng just how quick and accurate participants are when it comes to shooting basketball free throws.

The local high school will be hosting the Hoops for Sports Free Throw Competition from Tuesday through Friday this week, with scores recorded throughout the event and prizes awarded to the top shooters.

The project is the brainchild of Vanier Grade 11 students Kate Waldenberger and Jesse Mielke, who put things together as their Catholic Studies school project.

“We kind of got our inspiration from our school, they hosted something like this to raise funds for Down Syndrome so we followed that idea to raise funds for Kidsport,” said Waldenberger, a member of Vanier’s city and provin-

cial champion girls basketball team.

“We really agree with their mission and thought we’d help out.”

The event will take place every afternoon from Tuesday, May 30 through Friday, June 2 during Vanier’s lunch hour from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.. For $2, students will have one minute to drain as many shots as they can, with person with the highest total receiving a prize at the end of the week.

Things ramp up on Friday during the corporate and community event, where participants will put $10 toward the charity and take their shot at racking up the most baskets to emerge as the corporate champion.

“We’re really hoping for a good turnout and we’ll be able to raise as much money as we can,” Mielke said. Kidsport has become an exceptionally valuable program for youth in Moose Jaw, as the organization helps cover costs and registration fees for youngsters from age five to 18 so they can get involved in sports.

Applications can cover up to $500 per child per year, with Kidsport having helped 255 youngsters to the tune of $65,912 in 2022 alone.

For more information on Kidsport, including to apply for a grant, visit www.kidsportcanada.ca/saskatchewan/ moose-jaw/.

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Personal Care Home Benefit program information can be found on Saskatchewan.ca website.

Iver Main Place in Central Butte offers level 1 & 2 care for independent seniors

For senior residents in the Central Butte area who require level 1 & 2 care, consider Iver Main Place, which is a non-profit care home featuring a positive and independent atmosphere

Aaron

Located in the heart of Central Butte, Iver Main Place Inc. is a non-profit level 1 & 2 care home for residents who remain independent but may require some degree of assistance.

Jeri Upton, manager at Iver Main Place explains: “For example, I have residents who have been with us for seven or ten years, and they are still able to... feed themselves, dress themselves, but maybe have a little bit of mobility issues and cannot be alone completely, but they are still rather independent with their lives.”

“One of the nice things about it is a lot of our residents are from the surrounding area, so it gives them the opportunity to stay living here and stay close to all of their friends and family.”

In this independent setting, residents are not confined to the building. “We let our residents come and go as they please. They don’t have to have permission to leave the building,” explains Upton. “If they want to go outside on their own for a walk, we let them have free range with their lives.”

Iver Main Place features rooms that are cozy, private, and have an en-suite bathroom. “Everybody gets their own private room, unless a couple wants to share their room, then we do have larger rooms available,” confirms Upton.

Residents can have furniture provided, but also have the option of bringing their own furnishings to get the feeling of being at home. “We give them the opportunity

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Regarding the community, Upton only has good things to say. “Our community is wonderful, and we get tons of support from the town and all our board members. They are all very supportive in trying to give residents what they may need.”

For residents who want to get outside and visit the local community, there are destinations available. “There’s a senior center in the community and they have card games… so quite often some of our residents will go there after lunch and play cards with other members of the community,” explains Upton.

That same sense of community exists among staff and residents. “We all get along and we are all very open and honest with each other. The staff, they just treat everybody as if they were family. It’s wonderful.”

“Plus, it was National Caesar Day [back on May 18th]… so we [had] a barbecue and Caesars and hung out on the patio… Our people really like to have fun,” says Upton, touching on the positive atmosphere of Iver Main Place. “If I wasn’t young and with children, I would consider living in a place like this.”

to bring their own furniture, so that they can make it as homey and comfortable as they would like,” Upton says.

“And of course, they get the meals, and the activities, so they’re really getting that good social aspect, and that’s all covered in their rent cost.”

Residents are ensured peace of mind when it comes to their health, thanks to a medical clinic only a few blocks away, and a dental clinic that shares the building.

When it comes to meals, Upton reflects positively on her experience. “Oh, we provide all the good stuff. Every day that I walk in there, it smells like walking into grandma’s house. It just smells so good.”

“There’s always dessert. There’s always cookies and treats. All the things you’d find at grandma’s house. Our kitchen staff is very talented,” says Upton as she reflects on many delicious home-cooked meals.

Good eating and peace of mind are not the only amenities offered by Iver Main Place.

Activities are arranged by Lorine Benson, who is the activities coordinator. “She plans all the activities and events for the seniors, and… she bases it on the interests of the residents. So... it can change… depending on who is living with us at the time,” Upton explains, noting that residents can request activities that match their interests.

Activities include student performances, a local group known as the Manor Singers who play oldies once a month, and a few locals who play guitar or piano.

“They will come in and ‘tickle the ivory’ for an hour or two, and visit with the residents,” says Upton.

If you or a loved one are looking for the ideal assisted living facility and are in the Central Butte area, consider reaching out to the supportive staff at Iver Main Place.

Currently there are four single and two double rooms available, and a limited time discount of $400 off the first two month’s rent is in effect.

Have you heard about the Personal Care Home Benefit plan offered by the provincial government? You can read about it at https://www.saskatchewan.ca to see if you qualify.

For more information, Iver Main Place Inc. can be contacted at 1-306-796-2117 or through their website at https://www.ivermain.ca

The City of Moose Jaw is asking motorists to avoid #NotoriouslyCloseCalls and steer clear of construction crews.

“We only get a few months every year to complete road repair and many other infrastructure projects,” said Mayor Clive Tolley. “When drivers illegally cross barriers and enter work zones, they put lives at risk and slow down the progress of work. We ask all drivers to obey posted signage, slow to 30 km/h and exercise caution near all work zones for the safety of everyone.”

In October 2022, a motorist who ignored “Road Closed” signs and illegally drove into a closed work zone struck and injured a City of Moose Jaw employee. Other city employees have also experienced #NotoriouslyCloseCalls with vehicles at work sites.

The city reminds motorists that it is illegal to enter a work site where “Road Closed” signs are present and they should use alternate routes. Failure to do so may result in penalties under sections 9 and 10 of the city’s Traffic Bylaw.

1 & 2 care for senior residents

When crews are performing other activities — such as street cleaning or pothole repair — motorists are asked to slow down and be aware of oncoming traffic when going around the respective job sites.

Walker - Moose Jaw Express / Moose Jaw

Residents and staff of Iver Main enjoy the new patio donated by Palliser Plains Co-op, as managers Helen Watson and George Hartell serve lunch on

in the heart of Central Butte, Sk. Our friendly, caring, dedicated staff treat our residents like family, giving our loved ones the support they need to feel at home and remain in the

Please call for your personal appointment to review your investment plan today.

King George completes long-awaited playground, receives $15k Mosaic Food Grant

King George Elementary School has finally completed their playground project, which took years of fundraising by the volunteers on the School Community Council (SCC), and received a $15,000 grant from the Mosaic Company at around the same time.

“Credit for this playground really needs to go to the parents and the staff of King George, because the fundraising we did as the SCC only happened because they participated,” said Rachelle Grado, the SCC president. “Whether that was through monetary contributions, or volunteerism, or just spending their time.”

The playground fundraising was a major undertaking — the price tag for the equipment and landscaping was around $30,000. The SCC did a cost-sharing arrangement with Prairie South School Division, and were able this year to finish raising their half.

“Anything that can support outdoor activities, or where kids can play more, is just so vital,” Grado said. “And this is an area with a lot of kids. There’s a lot of schools around, and playgrounds, but this yard gets used a lot because it’s so central, and we have lots of options.”

“It’s been sheer joy, and not just from the kids,” said Jill Tressel, principal of

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge grant of $15,000.

“We were super excited to receive the [Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge] grant,” Tressel said. “We put in an application, again thinking about our student wellness, and the conversation was around ensuring all students have access to healthy breakfast items or a snack.

“We’re a very full school — which is great — so there isn’t a lot of space to do something like a breakfast program, so we did some creative problem solving around possibly setting up individual stations in each classroom.”

The Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge is a provincial contest organized by the Saskatchewan School Boards Association that “encourages grassroots initiatives to promote student nutrition and healthier school environments through nutrition-re-

lated activities and programming.”

Tressel said the grant would enable King George School to install mini fridges in each classroom next year. Older students at the school will be involved in menu planning, restocking, budgeting, inventory tracking, and possibly even grocery shopping for the fridges, giving them another learning practical learning opportunity.

“We’ll have some fresh fruit options, items like granola bars, we might look at being able to make toast, and we’ll change it up so the kids stay interested,” Tressel added.

“This way, students will have access to a snack or breakfast item when they need it, and not just at an assigned, before-school time. We can’t wait to see if that helps with learning, as well as attention and overall wellness.”

King George School. “I mean, the kids are loving it, but the parents, too. And after hours, things don’t stop here. If you were to drive by, you’d think we were holding activities every day, so this is not just for our students, but the whole community.”

The playground’s completion was a happy announcement, followed quickly by another one — King George School is one of ten schools in the province to receive a

Raymond James Ltd., Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

Jill Tressel (left), principal of King George School, and Rachelle Grado, president of the School Community Council, stand next to the school’s new playground installation (photo by Gordon Edgar)

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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: jritchie@moosejawtoday.com

Joan Ritchie Joyce Walter

Ron Walter John Kreutzwieser

Gordon Edgar Randy Palmer Jason G. Antonio Saddman Zaman

It is such an honour for the City of Moose Jaw and the Events Centre to be able to host the Para Hockey Championships this week. I certainly hope we all work to make a lasting impression on our guests from around the world by welcoming them and showing them Saskatchewan friendly hospitality.

I also greatly admire the players as they have exceeded beyond their physical impairment and have overcome many challenges to continue to excel in the sport’s arena. They are players with heart and optimism, and a dedicated commitment to the sport.

Although I do not participate in the level of sports I did when I was younger, I certainly tout the benefits of staying active and participation. As a person ages, we need to find a good fit for our lifestyle and continue to engage in activities that we are able to perform. Although I have golfed for many years and may not have seen much improvement in skill, I can certainly say the love for the sport has increased with age. It’s always been an opportunity to enjoy the sun and fresh air, the exercise and the social arena of the sport.

On the Statistics Canada website at https:// www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/81-595-m/2008060/ s12-eng.htm, they list the top four most important benefits Canadian’s believe they receive from participating in sports:

· “Overall, men and women attributed higher levels of importance to relaxation and physical health and fitness and lower levels of importance to sense of achievement, family activity, and making new friends and acquaintances.

· “Sport participation encourages team building, social interaction and the bonding of all those involved. This is thought to have relevance to the concept of community identity and social cohesion.

· “To most Canadians, sport participation is a road map to good health and longevity, although they consider nutrition and moderation in such personal habits as drinking as also important. Some see sport as a way to control weight.

· “…sport participation may also be linked to increased life satisfaction. Active participants in sports tend to be physically fit and healthy. They tend to feel better about themselves and therefore may be more satisfied with their lives generally.”

Participating in sports also helps to build leadership skills. Belonging to a sport’s team gives a person an opportunity to be around competitive people and role models, and learn from them both. You have an opportunity to demonstrate your own leadership through becoming a team captain and with your own skills to help improve your team’s success.

The take-away from all of this is to get involved, find a sport that suits you and your lifestyle and then reap the benefits to a healthier, happier you! You won’t be disappointed!

And to all the teams participating in the Worlds Para Hockey Championship, wishing you all a wonderful stay, satisfaction in your sport, safe travels home and all the best!

To our community, take some time to get out and go to a game or two, support this great opportunity to enjoy a world-class event and this special opportunity granted to our city.

Party in the Park -

Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival

Submitted by Janie Fries

On Friday evening May 19th, following the annual Band & Choral Festival, 750 young people were hosted in Crescent Park providing them an opportunity to dance to the music of the Bromantics. Students were from all three Prairie Provinces and by the look of things; it was a great conclusion to a very successful festival.

The City of Moose Jaw was awarded the “Community Involvement” award for supporting the festival since 1950, all 71 events.

Moose Jaw-area groups receive nearly $60K in charitable gaming grants

The provincial government has provided $1.9 million in charitable gaming grants to 1,300 groups and organizations as part of its latest quarterly payment, with Moose Jaw-area groups receiving nearly $60,000.

Groups that conduct licensed charitable gaming activities such as bingo, raffles, breakopens, Texas Hold ’em poker and Monte Carlo events are eligible for the quarterly grant. The grant is equal to 25 per cent of the net revenues that an event raises, to a maximum of $100,000 annually.

The province provided a total of $57,755.65 to the Moose Jaw area.

Twenty-two groups in area communities received $24,284.12, including:

· Assiniboia: $6,775.83

· Briercrest: $625 Central Butte: $3,108.15

· Eyebrow: $86.15

· Gravelbourg: $1,079.97

· Kincaid: $6,226.38

· Mortlach: $33.75

· Mossbank: $3,167.11

· Riverhurst: $1,810

· Tugaske: $450.40

Moose Jaw Express staff

· Willow Bunch: $902.38

In Moose Jaw, 29 groups received $33,491.53, including:

· Cheer Infinity Fundraising Inc.: $1,885.52

· Church of Our Lady Parish: $237

· Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital Auxiliary Inc.: $562.50

· King George Elementary School: $136.50

· MJ and District Seniors Association Inc.: $1,800.28

· Elks No. 7: $1,394.56

· Humane Society: $380.15

· MJ Miller Express Baseball Booster Club Inc.: $979.10

· Minor Hockey Association:

$7,260.77

· Hockey U13 Royal Rage: $375

· MJ Search and Rescue Inc.: $120

· Skating Club: 746.93

· Soccer Association Inc.: $16.88

· U11A Warriors: $900

· U15 Mad Greek Mafia: $618.54

· U15AA Warriors: $612.50

· U15B Thrashers: $886.19

· Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans (ANAVETS) Club No. 252:

$1,879.78

· MJ Warriors Booster Club:

$1,101.88

· Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59: $6,348.50

· Running Wild Rescue: $338.13

· Sask. Wildlife Federation: $2,247.85

· Southwest Day Care and Early Learning Centre Inc.: $233.50

· U13A Red Warriors: $493.55

· U13A Warrior White: $500

· U13B Predators: $570

· U15 MJ Mavericks: $400

· U9C Warriors Yellow: $454.97

· Youth Bowling Council (YBC): $10.95

“Groups and organizations who receive these grants do so because of their hard work strengthening their communities,” said Lori Carr, the minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA). “Our government is pleased to continue to support these important volunteer efforts.”

Charities do not have to apply to receive the grant. The SLGA obtains the necessary information to calculate the grant from the paperwork that groups or organizations submit.

Eyebrow trade fair, community garage sale held

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

A sense of belonging was the theme for this year’s Eyebrow School trade fair.

About eight tables with merchandise were in the school gym. On one of the tables, Central Butte artist Bill Philpott had art work and art publications for sale.

The Tugaske library had another table.

The community garage sale had nine sales locations that included the eight-mile drive to Maunder’s Green House.

Lunch included a buffet of salads, beef on a bun, hot dogs and homemade cake or pie.

Proceeds from the trade fair and lunch will be used for learning purposes at the school, which has just under 50 students.

Past trade fairs raised money to re-build the school entrance and to have Moose Jaw sculptor Bill Keen build

a falcon statue. The school teams are named the Eyebrow Falcons.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Joan Ritchie EDITOR

Hot Pressure Washers!!

REPORT from Moose Jaw

North MLA

The spring sitting of the Legislature concluded on May 18, 2023.

Our government passed several bills that will continue our work, creating growth that works for everyone in our province. This spring, the Government of Saskatchewan passed The Saskatchewan First Act. This legislation reaffirms Saskatchewan’s constitutional autonomy and asserts our province’s exclusive jurisdiction over the exploration, development and management of non-renewable natural resources, forestry resources and the generation and production of electricity.

The federal government, which is a coalition between Justin Trudeau’s Liberals and Jagmeet Singh’s NDP, has made several attempts to restrict, or outright ignore, the rights and jurisdiction of each province in this regard. Our Saskatchewan government will continue standing up for

our citizens and we will refuse to allow that federal coalition government to infringe upon our province’s right to explore, develop, and manage our own natural resources.

Our government also announced Saskatchewan’s plan for electricity generation to 2035 and beyond. This plan commits to achieving net-zero by 2050 with an energy mix that ensures reliable baseload power and affordable customer rates. This will use existing natural gas plant assets, including the Great Plains Power Station in Moose Jaw, to the end of life and working toward small modular reactors, while continuing to expand intermittent power sources, such as wind and solar. This plan will ensure Saskatchewan’s electrical generation is reliable, affordable, sustainable and achievable. Our government will not drive up SaskPower rates for Saskatchewan families to reach the federal government’s arbitrary 2035 target.

As we move into the summer, you will see work con

tinue on several projects laid out in this year’s record $3.7 billion capital budget. These projects will ensure we have the schools, hospitals and highways our growing province needs. Ground was recently broken on the new jointuse school in Moose Jaw. I was excited and honoured to participate in that ceremony. The new school represents a $69 million dollar investment from the Government of Saskatchewan. It will accommodate 900 students from Prairie South and Holy Trinity Catholic school divisions and will offer capacity for 51 regulated child care spaces.

Province alerts residents to be bear aware as hibernation season ends

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

It’s the time of year when bears leave their dens in search of food, and the Saskatchewan government is officially cautioning residents to take precautions to avoid potentially unsafe interactions — for the sake of the bears and the people.

“Remember, Saskatchewan is bear country,” said Dana Skoropad, Saskatchewan minister of environment. “Bears and other wildlife are a natural part of our landscape. Taking some simple, proactive steps can help protect us and the bears from potential conflicts.”

Black bears are found throughout most of the province. Although they are most commonly spotted in northern Saskatchewan forests, their range extends southward into the aspen parkland and into other areas including the Touchwood Hills, the Qu’Appelle Valley, and the South Saskatchewan River Valley.

Black bears are typically shy, non-confrontational herbivores who avoid people if at all possible. There are no documented instances of black bears actively predating humans. Rare confrontations are usually a matter of food, surprise, or accidentally getting between a mother and her cubs.

However, all animals have the potential to be dangerous under threatening circumstances. Black bears can sprint up to 50 kilometres per hour and are such agile tree climbers that they can run straight up the side of a tree when spooked — or if there is a bee hive full of honey. Do not run from black bears — stand your ground, make yourself look as big as possible, including by grouping together with other people (don’t hike solo), make noise, and if the confrontation becomes physical, fight back.

Grizzly bears are much larger and more aggressive. In the case of a grizzly bear confrontation, do not run and do not fight — lie down and play dead (no noise, no movement) to reduce the threat you pose. Grizzlies do not eat humans and will almost always leave if they do not feel threatened.

If carrying bear spray, remember it will not disable the bear and should not used at close range — or it may

disable its user instead. Aim the spray at least 20 feet away, between the user and the bear, and back away slowly. Be very mindful of the wind direction. If the bear ap proaches, the irritant will act as a barrier to help persuade the animal that the encounter is not worth its time.

Bears become a nui sance and a threat to pub lic safety when they asso ciate humans with their food source. Some items that can attract bears in clude pet food, household waste, and overloaded compost bins. Removing these and other attractants will reduce the chance of an unwanted backyard visitor.

Provincial regulations prohibit the feeding of bears, wolves, cougars, and coyotes. This regulation does not apply to landfills or hunters and trappers operating under a licence.

Steps for bear-proofing yards include:

• Storing garbage in secure buildings or a bear-resistant container. In bear-rich areas, garbage should only be put out on collection day.

• Washing all recycling items and regularly cleaning garbage or recycling bins.

• Ensuring pet food is stored where it is not accessible to wildlife.

• Only using bird feeders in the winter while bears hibernate.

• Never adding fish, meat, fats, oils, unrinsed eggshells, and cooked foods to compost bins.

• Properly cleaning barbecues after each use.

If a bear or other wildlife is posing an imminent risk to human safety, call 911. To report an encounter with aggressive wildlife, call the Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-667-7561. To report concerns about nuisance wildlife, including bears, call the Ministry of Environment at 1-800-567-4224 or email centre.inquiry@gov.sk.ca.

Additional information about bears and bear safety is available at saskatchewan.ca/wildlife-issues.

The new school is expected to open in 2025. With regard to healthcare, we are increasing the number of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers in our province with the four-point Health Human Resources Action Plan.

The Government of Saskatchewan also recently introduced a new compensation model for family doctors in our province. This new model will further support ongoing recruitment and retention efforts in family medicine. In the coming weeks, the ground will be broken on the Weyburn General Hospital project, and site preparation will continue on the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital project. The Urgent Care Centre in Regina is halfway complete and will open early next year, and a location has been chosen for the Saskatoon Urgent Care Centre in partnership with Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments.

Construction on our provincial highways is also in full swing; travellers are reminded to keep an eye out for construction zones and slow down to ensure everyone’s safety. Our government has plans to improve 1,000 kilometres (km) of highways this year, for a total of 4,600 km of highways improved over the last four years. Investments in this year’s budget will lay the foundation for further growth throughout the province.

Now that the spring sitting of the Legislature is complete, I look forward to connecting with you around the constituency at events throughout the summer. Your thoughts, suggestions and feedback are valuable to me as we continue to build on Saskatchewan’s growth.

Three young black bear cubs play in the forest (jared lloyd/ Moment/Getty Images)

Tim McLeod

Holy Trinity, local teachers’ union sign new five-year agreement

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Holy Trinity Catholic School Division and its teachers’ union have signed a new five-year agreement, which, among other things, creates a fund that teachers can access for professional development activities.

With the current Local Implementation and Negotiation Committee (LINC) agreement expiring on July 31, 2022, the Holy Trinity Teachers’ Association (HTTA) asked the division’s bargaining team to meet to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.

The two groups met on April 24, with the teachers’ LINC team consisting of seven members and the division’s team consisting of five senior leadership members. They hammered out a new deal that day and submitted it to the board of education, which ratified the new LINC agreement during its May 15 meeting.

The new agreement covers Aug. 1, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2027.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation negotiates salaries provincially for its members, while locally, teachers’ associations negotiate for perks such as substitute teacher pay, leaves of absence or class prep times, explained education director Ward Strueby.

After the HTTA and senior management completed negotiations and signed a tentative five-year agreement, the union sent it to teachers for a vote, he continued. Educators voted 96 per cent in favour of ratifying the document.

“I think it just goes to show that the relationship we

have between management and our schools in our division (is positive),” said Strueby. “Holy Trinity is a small school division, so we get to really know our staff and they really get to know management.

“It just really shows that great working relationship we have and we all know that if teachers are happy, division office staff are happy, that means our kids are going to be happy in classrooms as well.”

LINC agreement changes

One new change is the board will establish an annual professional advancement and learning fund that equates to 1.1 per cent of all teaching salaries — regardless of contract type, the board report said.

Holy Trinity will use the money for HTTA bursaries for individual professional development and division-allocated professional advancement and learning opportunities, while it will put any unspent money into an accumulation fund. By Aug. 31, 2027, any unused money will be carried over to a maximum of 25 per cent.

HTTA’s financial allocation will be 65 per cent and the division’s allocation will be 35 per cent.

Another money-related change is net pay will be deposited into teachers’ accounts on the 21st day of each month, with 10 pay periods from September to June or 12 pay periods from September to August.

With the start of the 2023-24 year, where the 21st day is on the weekend or a holiday, the division shall deposit the net pay on the preceding business day.

HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION

THE NEXT HOLY TRINITY BOARD MEETING IS MONDAY, JUNE 19.

Teachers now have new ways to access personal leave. They can submit their requests to their school administrator similarly to other special leave requests, or they can submit their requests directly to the education director or designate by selecting “confidentiality required” on the leave application form.

Meanwhile, the division will grant leave with pay for up to 20 days per school year to the HTTA executive to attend related business. HTTA members may also access these days to attend similar business upon approval from the union executive.

The new agreement also includes leave for teachers to attend truth and reconciliation-related events. After applying, members may use one of their allocated pressing personal days each year to attend Aboriginal spiritual, cultural or ceremonial events.

While the division will make every effort to grant the leave, the superintendent of human resources must approve to ensure the requested absence is operationally feasible and compliant with administrative procedures, the report added.

Holy Trinity’s latest reno plan commits nearly $2M to fixing schools

Moose Jaw’s Catholic school division plans to spend nearly $2 million on renovations to school buildings from 2024 to 2027, including continued upgrades to École St. Margaret School.

The Ministry of Education requires all 27 school divisions — including Holy Trinity Catholic School Division — to submit a three-year preventative maintenance and renewal (PMR) plan annually by June 30.

Since the provincial program’s inception in 2012-13, Holy Trinity has received $4,618,769 in PMR funding.

During the recent board of education meeting, division administration presented the three-year, $1,798,065 PMR plan covering the 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, including $350,000 for improvements to St. Margaret. However, administration noted it will have to modify funding for this $4.5-million project because it is experiencing a shortfall of roughly $1.5 million.

2024-25

Holy Trinity plans to spend $685,166 during the 2024-25 school year, including $26,266 at St. Agnes, $350,000 at St. Margaret, $10,769 at St. Mary, $145,135 at St. Michael, and $68,219 at Vanier.

Proposed work includes replacing the carpet at St. Mary; updating classrooms at St. Agnes, St. Michael and Vanier with new paint, whiteboards, bulletin boards, LED

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

lighting and ceiling tiles; adding exterior metal cladding at St. Margaret; replacing the floor in Sion Hall at Vanier; and addressing deteriorating cinder brick walls at St. Michael.

Abatement of asbestos and upgrades to IT equipment will also occur at all schools.

2025-26

The division expects to spend $545,647 during the 2025-26 school year, including $26,922 at St. Agnes, $237,047 at St. Michael, and $163,457 at Vanier.

Proposed work includes replacing three roof-top units and repaving the staff and student parking lots at Vanier, updating classrooms at St. Agnes, Vanier, and St. Michael, and landscaping around St. Michael.

Abatement of asbestos and upgrades to IT equipment will also occur at all schools.

2026-27

Holy Trinity plans to spend $567,252 during the 2026-27 school year, including $27,595 at St. Agnes, $27,595 at St. Michael, and $235,284 at Vanier.

Proposed projects include replacing a roof section at Vanier, updating classrooms at St. Agnes, Vanier, and St. Michael, and repairing deteriorating cinder brick walls. Abatement of asbestos and upgrades to IT equipment will also occur at all schools.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

To prevent high school students who struggle educationally from falling through the cracks, Prairie South School Division is starting a new school that lets students complete work at their own pace.

Pathways School will be fully operational starting this September. It will be a storefront school for students in grades 10 to 12 who cannot achieve success in a traditional school setting. A storefront school is a non-traditional learning environment that uses space in a building

typically meant for retail.

Prairie South’s new learning space will be located at 109 Ominica Street West, adjacent to the Sherwin-Wil liams paint store.

This new learning centre came about after admin istrators from the three high schools spoke to the board earlier this year to say they were seeing some students fail to succeed in the traditional learning environment, explained Derrick Huschi, superintendent of school op erations.

“We want all our students to do well and we under stand that students learn in different ways, so … we just thought it would be a good idea to create a totally different environment that doesn’t work within the semesterized system — and created our Pathways School,” he said.

High schools can generally accommodate youths who somewhat fall behind in their work, but administrators were noticing that they were losing students who were frustrated and refusing to attend, Huschi continued. Therefore, this new program targets youths who should be in school but are not.

Division administration expects to see 30 to 40 students attend Pathways School this fall.

According to PSSD, the new school is designed to help students succeed by focusing on their strengths, interests and goals and creating more flexibility and free-

Updated 2023-24 PMR plan

During the board meeting, division administration also presented an updated PMR plan for the 2023-24 school year after identifying other needs and deficiencies during the past couple of years.

The board had originally approved the 2023-24 PMR plan during the May 2022 board meeting.

The amended PMR plan for next year shows Holy Trinity plans to spend $1,027,588 to upgrade schools. This includes:

· $351,754 at St. Margaret to install a new roof-top unit, update an exterior stucco wall, replace windows in portables with energy-efficient models, and install new carpet throughout the building

· $293,146 at Vanier to renovate the library/resource centre, update classrooms, upgrade elevator controls, and replace a section of the roof

· $163,802 at St. Agnes to update classrooms, move the administrative office to the lower level where the library is and transform the present admin area into the new library, and update a roof section

· $65,625 at St. Michael to update classrooms and replace forced air furnaces

· $$65,625 to abate asbestos in all buildings and upgrade IT gear

The next PSSD board meeting is TUESDAY, JUNE 6.

nizations will help students build success through a sense of belonging.

Students who attend this program will also learn at a pace that works for them while they will focus on employability and attaining outcomes for courses toward graduation.

Teachers will hold students accountable for completing their work while they will still follow the Saskatchewan curriculum for that grade, said Huschi. However, the new program gives youths more time to finish that material versus having to complete it during a specific semester.

“We’re trying to meet students where they are. Students come in with varying strengths and needs, and instead of being restricted to the confinements of the way a typical school runs,” he added, “we’re going to achieve the outcomes slightly different.”

By Patricia Hanbidge

The June Garden!

Every year it seems we have a different weather pattern as we move into the growing season. Our spring this year has been cool, with many of the leaves still not fully out or just beginning to show that wonderful green of spring. In my garden, although the scilla and tarda tulips have completed their bloom, there are still many more regular tulips that are just now showing colour.

The asparagus is doing a wonderful job of providing us with fresh, tasty greens that we so thoroughly enjoy. However, our soils are dry and everything that is not fully established is needing supplemental watering. I have already watered all the new areas that were planted with perennials last season a couple of times. Looking at the winds, the temperatures and listening to what the plants are telling me, I will be hauling out the hoses again today.

I always think that when the hostas come up – we truly have hit temperatures that are conducive to all the

heat-loving things that we grow. I have yet to see any signs of any of the hostas poking through the surface of the soil. I am in one way thankful for that as it seems my spring gardening chores have not all been completed.

Take the hardy (or not so hardy) shrub roses. Some seem to have been hit hard last winter. Remember, that usually by the time June rolls around, we should be able to see what has survived and prune the hardy shrub roses appropriately. Simply prune back those branches that have died or are not growing in a good shrub-like shape. Some roses will bloom more if you prune off the spent blooms so this is really the only chores necessary to keep our hardy shrub roses happy!

Right now in my front yard, there are a multitude of blooms. The Saskatoon berries are in full bloom, the ornamental crabs are looking spectacular, as are the flowering almonds. The plums and cherries have almost finished their bloom and the only thing yet to boast her beauty is the Ohio buckeye. It is a real pleasure to see the full bloom of our trees and shrubs. Hopefully, we will get rain, but otherwise, I guess I will need to provide the water so necessary to size up the fruit!

Take your lawn mower blades to a professional to have them sharpened. Dull blades make ragged cuts and

invite diseases. Clean and sharpen hand tools. If pruning shears are full of dried sap, clean with steel wool and then lightly oil.

As the temperatures rise, and the soil dries, take time to ensure you are watering deeply and thoroughly. If you are unsure how much to water in your perennial beds, take a trowel and dig down a few inches. After watering, the soil should be moist well below the root zone. This encourages deep rooting of your plants which helps them to withstand short periods of drought. Water early in the morning as the temperature is lower and the wind is generally not a problem.

Use a brush to clean out plant pots and containers. Soak them in 1-part chlorine bleach to 9 parts water for 30 minutes to get rid of any disease-carrying organisms which may be present.

As you begin to work in the perennial beds, watch where you put your feet. There are still many new emerging shoots which are very tender. It is the ideal time to mulch around your perennials and to look for budding insect and disease problems. Weeding is such a never-ending chore but short work is made of it by catching those problems early – while the invaders are still small.

And finally, take some time to explore the wonders of all that is available in the local nurseries and greenhouses. Who knows what might follow you home?

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?

SaskGaming spending $5M to modernize 21-year-old Casino Moose Jaw

With its refresh of Casino Regina complete, SaskGaming is focusing on Casino Moose Jaw as it plans to extensively upgrade the venue for the first time since its opening 21 years ago.

The provincial government announced in mid-May that the gaming and entertainment site would receive a $5 million facelift starting in late June that would create “a brighter, more welcoming, and convenient environment for guests.”

The province expects construction to continue until early 2024.

The renovation of the two casinos is part of SaskGaming’s multi-year modernization plan to upgrade buildings under its control, explained Brian Miller, director of communications. For example, the organization just finished updating Casino Regina after spending the past four years and $5 million each year — over $20 million in total — to make that happen.

Now it’s The Friendly City’s turn.

“So that’ll pretty much be the completion of that five-year modernization plan once we complete the renovations in Moose Jaw early next year,” he added.

The renovations will focus on the gaming and food and beverage areas of

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

the casino and will include brighter lights, new carpet, and an updated floor plan so people flow through smoothly, which should enhance guests’ experience, Miller said.

The purpose of modernizing these entertainment venues is to fulfill SaskGaming’s commitment to offering the best experience possible for people who walk through the doors.

“When people step into Casino Moose Jaw, we want them to see that that casino reflects our commitment and (to) stay on the cutting edge of casino gaming in our province,” he continued.

Miller noted that anyone who has walked through Casino Regina recently would understand what to expect with the renovations here. This will also be the first extensive renovation to Casino Moose Jaw since it opened in 2002; the only previous renovation — in 2009 — expanded the gaming floor.

The communications director added that Casino Moose Jaw will still be open during renovations, although tarps will block the affected areas.

According to its 2021-22 annual report, SaskGaming saw a net income of

Seeding advances nearly doubling completed acres

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

Saskatchewan farmers almost doubled the acres seeded during the last week, reaching 68 per cent completed up from 38 per cent the previous week.

Most advanced regions are the northwest at 84 per cent, west central at 76 per cent and the southwest at 71 per cent.

Provincially, topsoil moisture ratings fell with two per cent surplus, two-thirds adequate and 29 per cent short.

Farmers in the southwest would appreciate a soft gentle rain, said the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture crop report for the week ended May 22.

The southeast region, which includes Moose Jaw, almost tripled seeding to 51 per cent, but way behind the average of 73

per cent. Excess moisture delayed seeding.

Eighty-eight per cent of cultivated land in the southeast had adequate moisture with eight per cent surplus and a mere four per cent short.

In the southwest, seeding was three-quarters completed and almost double last week’s progress.

One-third of topsoil moisture was short with 61 per cent adequate and seven per cent short.

Crops are slowly emerging and appear to be doing well.

$19.1 million last year, compared to a net loss of $13.4 million during the 2020-21 year.

Upgrades to the two casinos are part of a $2.1 billion plan by Saskatchewan’s Crown corporations in 2023-24 to enhance system safety and reliability, better serve customers and support the prov-

ince’s growing economy, according to the province.

During this fiscal year, SaskTel plans to invest $412 million, SaskEnergy a record $331 million, SaskPower with $1.15 billion, SaskWater with $44.6 million and SGI with $31.2 million.

From The Kitchen

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

Broccoli and Brussels sprouts: to love them or hate them!

Friends who are regularly served institutional meals have complained to me about the vegetables that show up on their plates several times a week.

Brussels sprouts and broccoli are the guilty ones, leading some to suggest those vegetables must be the cheapest to buy and therefore save the purchasing agents money to spend on maybe buying a better cut of meat, or serving a larger slice of cake.

There are many theories, besides nutritional value, that are offered for the appearance of those green vegetables more often than peas or carrots.

The cookbook of choice this week devotes several pages to ways to use both vegetables and recipes to make them more glamorous than just being lumped onto a plate.

• • •

COMPANY BRUSSELS SPROUTS

1-10 oz. can cream of celery soup

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup diced celery

2 1/2 cups Brussel sprouts, steamed to doneness

1/2 cup grated cheese

1 tbsp. pimiento, chopped

1/2 cup slivered almonds, if desired

1/2 cup crumbs for topping

In a large pan, mix soup and milk. Add celery

and simmer until celery is tender.

Transfer to a large casserole dish. Add Brussels sprouts, cheese, pimiento and nuts. Cover with crumbs and dot with butter.

Bake in a 350 degrees F oven for 20 minutes or until mixture bubbles. Serves 4-6.

• • •

BRUSSELS SPROUTS RELISH

3 cups Brussels sprouts

1/4 cup wine vinegar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

3/4 cup vegetable oil pepper to taste

1 tbsp. green onion, minced

3/4 tsp. dried dill weed

1/4 cup dairy sour cream

Steam Brussels sprouts until soft. Remove loose leaves and discard.

Combine vinegar, salt, mustard, oil, pepper, onions and dill weed.

Place Brussels sprouts in a large dish. Pour the vinegar dressing over the sprouts, mix, and cover dish with plastic wrap.

Chill several hours or overnight. Drain dressing before serving. Mix the sprouts with the sour cream.

Place in a serving dish and sprinkle with more dill weed, if desired. Store remainder in the refrigerator. Serves 10-12.

• • •

BROCCOLI CORN CASSEROLE

1 1/2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped

1 large can creamed corn

1/4 cup Saltine cracker crumbs

1 egg, beaten

2 tbsps. butter, melted

1 tbsp. minced onion

1/2 tsp. salt

dash pepper

1/4 cup Saltine cracker crumbs

2 tbsps. butter, melted

Cook and drain the broccoli.

In a 2 qt. casserole combine the broccoli, corn. 1/4 cup crumbs, egg, 2 tbsps. melted butter, onion, salt and pepper.

Blend 1/4 cup crumbs and 2 tbsps. melted butter. Sprinkle over the vegetables.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes. Serves 6.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel. net

Food Farm program returns for 10th year to educate youths about ag industry

Agriculture in the Classroom — Saskatchewan (AITCSK) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Food Farm program, which immerses students in the sights, sounds and smells of the industry while communicating its importance.

The Food Farm program teaches students in Grade 3 from where their food comes by having them actively participate in growing the ingredients for familiar foods such as pizza, burgers and fries.

Youths visit an area farm and work through eight fun and engaging stations highlighting different aspects of agriculture — such as bees, farm safety, water management, dairy, and equipment — that give them a memorable experience they likely wouldn’t find anywhere else.

The students will also plant vegetables and crops such as canola and wheat. They then return to that farm site in the fall as Grade 4s to help harvest their bounty and learn more about agriculture.

To celebrate the program’s 10th birthday, AITC-SK will promote the event in 10 locations next month. The educational tour will stop at a farm northeast of Moose Jaw on Thursday, June 8, while students and their teachers can visit from 9:45 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

To register, visit https://aitc.sk.ca/programs/food-

Humane Society

Pet of the Month Olga

Olga is an adult female Great

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

za dough or their buns for their burgers,” she continued. “So it really gives that farm-to-fork connection for the students.”

It’s important that students understand from where their food comes, that they realize agriculture is all around them and that everyone is connected to the industry via what they eat, Gusikoski said. Furthermore, in some rural communities, they need to realize some of their friends’ parents are likely involved in growing the food they consume.

then Adoptable Animals and scroll to her beautiful face to submit your application. We look forward to hearing from you! Once your application has been approved, we will contact you to book a time to come and spend some time with Pearl to be sure she is the right t for you.

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

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Agriculture in the Classroom — Saskatchewan (AITCSK) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Food Farm program, which immerses students in the sights, sounds and smells of the industry while communicating its importance. Photo courtesy Twitter

farm.

“It’s a really cool experience for the students because they get to be part of the full cycle of farming,” said Chandra Gusikoski, AITC-SK communications manager.

“They make the connection from the foods they grew, like the potatoes to make French fries. Or, one of the stations, they might actually thrash the wheat and put it through the grinder to make the flour … used for piz-

“So to bring a little bit of light to how important the work is that farmers in the province are doing,” she remarked.

AITC-SK wants students to be as hands-on as possible because having dirty and messy hands indicates how involved the youths were in the activities, Gusikoski said. Whether it’s painting with soils to learn about textures or crushing canola seeds to see the liquid, the organization ensures students touch everything so they absorb the knowledge better.

For classes unable to attend the in-person event, there is an online program that involves videos and hands-on activities.

Gusikoski added that it’s great having industry partners volunteer to make the program a success.

Humane Society announces 4 Paws

The Moose Jaw Humane Society (MJHS) is holding a ‘4 Paws Block Party’ on Saturday, June 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town ‘N Country Mall on Main Street, featuring vendors, children’s activities, and Country 100 radio.

“We’re holding this event to bring awareness to the Moose Jaw Humane Society and support our 4 Paws Lottery,” explained Donna Fritzke, fundraising co-ordinator with the MJHS.

“We have numerous vendors attending, including Spike Grooming, who will be doing nail trims, with all donations going to the Humane Society.”

Paws, Claws, and Tails, a local pet daycare and kennel, will be onsite with a children’s table with activities for the kids, the MJHS will be selling logoed t-shirts, crew necks, and hoodies, and Derek Snow from No Dog Left Behind will be on hand doing public education on the benefits of therapy/facility dogs.

Snow is the trainer who provided a facility dog to Moose Jaw’s local paramedic station — Misty is now the health and wellness supervisor for Medavie Health Services West and is doing a great job. Snow trained Misty

using a framework informed by No Dog Left Behind’s psychiatric service dog program.

The MJHS’ kennel manager, Missy, will also be visiting the block party and will bring along Peeko, the Humane Society’s resident parrot.

The 4 Paws Lottery is the MJHS’s most important yearly fundraiser. It is an SLGA-registered charity lottery and tickets are 1 for $20, 3 for $50, and 5 for $75.

Cash prizes of $500 each will be drawn on July 10, 11, 12 and 13. The main prize, to be drawn on July 14, is for $10,000.

Tickets can be purchased by e-transfer to giving@ mjhs.ca, by calling the MJHS at 306-692-1517, or simply visit the shelter. The $500 cash prizes are sponsored by Ashdown’s Furniture & Interiors, Devo’s Carwash, Starlight Handmade Market, and Leipert Financial, and the $10,000 cash prize sponsors are Cypress Paving, Remax Moose Jaw, Pet Valu Moose Jaw, Family Pizza, Farm Valley & Ranch Supplies, Nissan Moose Jaw, Knight Hyundai, Knight Ford, and Knight Honda.

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JUNE 13.

The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation says the launch of its multi-million-dollar plant renewal project was its most significant event in 2022 because of how important the upgrade is to securing the region’s future water supply.

The corporation awarded the $325-million project to the Graham Construction-AECON Joint Venture Team in May, which began construction in June, while the corporation held a ground-breaking ceremony in July, the organization’s 2022 annual report said.

Furthermore, the corporation accelerated the installation of the 2.2-megawatt solar generation project in 2022 and expected to complete it by late 2023. It planned to use solar power to supplement the water treatment plant’s (WTP) utility power and reduce the complex’s carbon footprint.

The organization expects to complete and commission the project in 2025.

Ryan Johnson, president/CEO of the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation, presented the annual report during city council’s May 23 regular meeting.

Council comments

“It’s really great to see that this project (is) about 25-per-cent complete,” said Coun. Crystal Froese, who wondered how many workers would be on site at construction’s peak.

There will be 220 workers at peak work — last month there were 180 labourers — although that will fluctuate depending upon what’s happening, said Johnson. The project is currently facing a time crunch since the more advanced systems need to be operational to handle sum-

Launch of plant upgrade project the major highlight for

mer flows.

Buffalo Pound Corp. in 2022

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Operations are slowly transitioning to the new plant components and machines, which gives employees time to learn the system, he continued. This ensures if something is poorly functioning, staff can revert to the old system. This is the benefit of a renovation versus a brandnew build.

When asked whether the new WTP would fix the interesting “flavour and aromas” in the water, Johnson said the new plant would provide year-round taste and aroma control instead of the current seven months. It’s usually every 10 years when Buffalo Pound Lake has water issues.

“So … after this fall, we should have control where taste will no longer be an issue,” he stated.

Johnson added that the new plant would have a 25-year lifespan; the corporation was unlikely to ask for more money because of contingency funding; and the upgraded venue would recycle 10 per cent of its wastewater — about three million litres a day — compared to the typical five per cent. Report highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the WTP’s operations last year because all staff were fully vaccinated, while most pandemic effects were economic- and supply chain-related, the report said.

The corporation reported zero lost time incidents last year, zero near misses and two incidents of property damage. Managers followed the SMS Incident Investigation Procedure to handle collisions and implement corrective action.

The plant continued to provide safe drinking water to more than 270,000 area residents and met most regulatory requirements and criteria as it produced safe potable liquid, the document continued.

The issues the plant did face were minimal and mainly due to loss of power, discharging of more total suspended solids into the environment than is acceptable under its operating permit, changes in raw water conditions — major algae blooms and weed decay that caused smell and test issues — and equipment failure.

While the venue made short-term adjustments to improve operations, the completion of the plant renewal project will satisfactorily address these deficiencies, said the report.

The plant currently produces 205 megalitres (205 million litres) per day, but after the project is finished, that will increase to 250 megalitres per day.

Financially, water sales generated $13.12 million in operating revenue while operating expenses were $13.04 million, resulting in a surplus of roughly $80,000, the report said. Its operating reserve finished at $2.39 million.

Total water sales to Regina, Moose Jaw and SaskWater totalled 33,961.62 megalitres (ML), with the Queen City consuming 28,634.23 ML, The Friendly City drinking 5,129.60 ML, and the Crown corporation using 197.79 ML, the document showed.

The corporation’s total revenue for 2022 was $53,865,028 and its total expenses were $19,387,505, leaving a surplus of $34,477,523, the annual report added. This surplus was added to the accumulated surplus, which finished at $132,576,810.

Large price jump forces city to push feeder main project into 2024

City hall is pushing most construction work on its 16th Avenue feeder main replacement project into 2024 because costs — including labour and materials — are nearly 50-per-cent more than budgeted.

The engineering department had planned to complete the project in two phases — this year and next — by upgrading related storm sewer and sanitary infrastructure and addressing some roads and sidewalks. It had estimated that the total budget for phase 1 would be $4,765,500, although an engineer’s estimate pegged the cost at $5,149,134.05.

After issuing requests for quotes, the department received bids from two contractors, with one offering to complete phase 1 for $9,618,389.65 and the second for $6,901,073.69. The city — on the recommendation of its consultant — selected the second bid.

After removing the consulting fees from the original budget estimate and removing the GST from the bid, the difference between the two is $2,122,214.51, or 47.5 per cent beyond the available construction budget.

Due to that increase, the engineering department notified its consultant and the bidders that it would not award the tender for phase 1. Instead, the city encouraged the consultant to finish the design for phase 2 by July so the municipality owned both designs and could determine

the next steps to complete the project.

The engineering department is now considering its options for possibly phasing in some work this year on the 16th Avenue feeder main and the Coteau Street/South Hill (CS/SH) feeder main while also reviewing the 2024 cast iron replacement program, said director Bevan Harlton during the May 23 executive committee meeting.

The department is currently designing in-house the CS/SH project, which will focus on moving from west to east from 12th Avenue Southwest to Eighth Avenue Southwest, he continued. There are several blocks of cast iron pipe along that stretch, so the department could combine those two projects for more efficiency.

After engineering services finishes the designs for both projects, it will better understand their costs while knowing which initiative to prioritize, Harlton said.

The money established for this year’s main project will likely be carried forward into next year, although the department could use that funding to complete some other work this year.

The main reason the bid cost for phase 1 is so high is that labour costs have risen, while concrete and asphalt prices have also jumped substantially, he added. In comparison, prices were more reasonable for the cast iron replacement program because the tender closed seven

Council nominates Jessica McNaughton as rep on Regina airport board

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

City council has nominated Jessica McNaughton as Moose Jaw’s representative on the Regina Airport Authority’s board of directors, with the Moose Javian replacing outgoing rep Trish Martynook.

Council unanimously approved McNaughton’s nomination during the May 23 regular meeting. Her three-year term commences immediately and concludes on April 30, 2026, or until a successor is appointed. She replaces Martynook, who recently completed her third three-year term on the board and also served as the board’s first female chairperson.

Since September 1997, the City of Regina has invited the City of Moose Jaw to appoint a representative to the Regina Airport Authority (RAA), a council report explained. The intention was to bring a wider context to the authority and include a liaison with 15 Wing Air Base.

Council has nominated individuals for appointment to the authority board for the past 26 years.

The city clerk’s office placed a call for nominations for the RAA board in early March, while the deadline for application submissions was March 17, the report said. City administration received four applications, which it

presented to council during the in-camera executive committee meeting on May 8.

The executive committee selected McNaughton using the RAA Bylaw No. 1 and the YQR Nominator Guidelines.

The RAA is a not-for-profit agency that oversees the management of the Regina International Airport and has a board of directors governing it, the report continued. The board consists of 13 business leaders with diverse skill sets who provide strategic direction and oversight while delegating operating authority to the president and CEO.

To ensure a broad range of input representing community needs, various nominating bodies provide members to the airport board for three-year terms to a maximum of nine years.

Those nominating bodies include the City of Regina (six positions), the federal government (two positions), the provincial government (one position), the Rural Municipality of Sherwood (one position), the City of Moose Jaw (one position) and the RAA (up to two positions at the board’s discretion).

weeks earlier.

“Well, that’s quite the increase (of) 47.5 per cent. That kind of blows my mind a little bit … ,” said Coun. Crystal Froese, before asking whether the department would consider issuing tenders in the fall so projects are ready by the following spring.

“Yes, if we put things out in the fall, we would see cost savings (and competitive prices),” replied Harlton, noting the department hasn’t done that before because projects are contingent upon the budget, which council normally approves in December.

VILLAGE OF DRINKWATER 2023 ASSESSMENT ROLL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Village of Drinkwater for the year of 2023 has been prepared and is open for inspection in the office of the assessor from 10:00 am to 2 pm on Wednesday May 31st, 2023 till July 5th, 2023.

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

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal with Kristen Tokaryk, Western Municipal Consulting Box 149 Meota, SK S0M 1X0.

Dated this 31st day of May, 2023

Leane Johnston, Assessor

• Thurs, June 1

• Sat, June 3

• Sat, June 10

• Sat, June 17

- Regular Horse Sale - Cow/Calf Pairs, Bred Cows/Hfrs

- Consignment Machinery, Vehicles, Tools

- Cow/Calf Pairs, Bred Cows

- Regular Saturday Morning Sale

Check

• Sat, June 24 In

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JUNE 13.

Nearly a year after asking city council to provide water services to its commercial development north of Moose Jaw, Cowan Farms Ltd. will soon connect its operations to the municipal water source.

During its May 23 regular meeting, council voted unanimously to authorize the business’ request for a water connection to the existing four-inch line west at the 16th Avenue Northwest right-of-way and approved city administration to negotiate an agreement for the water services.

The connection point will be at Normandy Drive.

Cowan Farms expects to consume roughly 5,100 litres (1,350 gallons) per day, which, based on modelling from February 2022, should not risk the city’s water network, a council report said.

The future agreement will include provisioning for metering and billing of water services, while the business will bear the capital and maintenance costs, the document continued. Furthermore, city hall will establish the water consumption rate at 2.25 times the municipal rate, similar to other rural water users.

City hall will receive a connection fee payment of $68,750, based on the commercial development’s need to service roughly eight hectares (20 acres) of land out of its total 40 hectares (100 acres), the report added.

Cowan

Farms receives OK to connect operations to city water supply

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Council discussion

Coun. Doug Blanc thought it was positive that the Cowans’ water use would not affect the city’s supply because he believed their project was important. However, he wanted a further explanation from city administration about how it would know if supply troubles occurred.

The engineering department supplied data about the water network to a contractor who models water and sanitary sewer flows, while it also worked with the fire department to test the output of area hydrants, explained Bevan Harlton, director of engineering.

The department then wrote the Cowans’ request for 5,100 litres per day into the agreement, and if they exceed that amount, both parties will have to re-discuss the business’ needs, he added.

Blanc acknowledged that not every business or industry could be within city limits, while some must remain outside those boundaries. However, he thought Moose Jaw would benefit economically from this project because most people working for the Cowans would live and shop here and contribute taxes.

Background

Cal and Deborah Cowan originally approached city council in April 2022 asking to connect to city water lines to service their land at SE-13-17-27 W2 — adjacent to

Highway 1 on the north side — in the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw.

Council approved their request to connect to either a private four-inch water line on 16th Avenue Northwest or the city’s eight-inch line near the north service road. The Cowans’ lawyer told council that while connecting the 20-acre parcel to the four-inch line would suffice for now, they preferred the eight-inch line because of volume and pressure requirements.

In June 2022 council unanimously authorized the mayor and city clerk to sign an infrastructure agreement, an extra municipal servicing agreement and an extra municipal servicing connection agreement between the municipality and the Cowans for water service for their development.

Since the couple wanted to subdivide the property into quarters for agricultural, industrial or commercial purposes, they had 15 years to pay $55,000 to the City of Moose Jaw for the developments.

Their first payment was to be $11,000, while the remaining $44,000 — $14,667 per subdivision — would be paid as more subdivisions occur. City hall will forgive the outstanding amount if the remaining money is not fully paid because no further subdivisions occurred.

Tax arrears increased nearly $140K year-over-year in March, data shows

Total tax arrears owed during 2023’s first quarter was nearly $140,000 more than in 2022, while the number of people on repayment plans continued to decline.

City administration presented the first-quarter financial report during the May 23 regular city council meeting. Data about tax arrears and outstanding debt were contained within the document.

Council voted unanimously to receive and file the report.

As of March 31, taxpayers owed $2,998,855 in total arrears, which comprised $1,838,213 in property tax liens

The Council of the City of Moose Jaw intends to consider a bylaw pursuant to The Planning and Development Act, 2007 to amend the City of Moose Jaw’s O cial Community Plan No. 5345.

The proposed amendments include a text amendment to accommodate for a Direct Control District; a map amendment that changes the Future Land Use designation of the area legally known as SW 29-16-26-2 Ext 4, Blk/Par B, Plan CX1021 Ext 0 & Blk/Par A, Plan 78MJ07626 Ext 1 from Community Service/Parks/RVC to Direct Control District 1 (DCD1); and a map amendment to the Development Constraints Map to remove the Environmental Conservation Easement from the subject area to correct a mapping error.

A map of the a ected area and a copy of the proposed Bylaw may be found on the City website at www.moosejaw.ca.

Public feedback on the proposed Bylaw may be directed to Planning and Development Services, 228 Main Street North, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 3J8, or by email at planning@moosejaw.ca. All written submissions must be received by 10:00 am on Monday, June 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to the Department of Planning and Development Services by email or by phone at 306-694-4443.

The proposed Bylaw and any submissions regarding the proposed Bylaw will be considered at the regular meeting of City Council to be held in Council Chambers, City Hall, at 4:00 pm on Monday, June 12, 2023.

DATED at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan this 18th day of May, 2023.

Tracy Wittke - City Clerk

and $1,160,642 in payment plans, the report said. Tax liens represented 61 per cent of total arrears.

As of March 31, 2022, taxpayers owed $2,859,803 in total arrears, which comprised $1,564,639 in tax liens and $1,295,164 in payment plans. Tax liens represented 55 per cent of total arrears.

Therefore, the total outstanding tax arrears increased by $139,052 from 2022 to 2023.

Meanwhile, by March 31, 2021, taxpayers owed $3,788,665 in total arrears. This comprised $1,395,628 in tax liens and $2,393,037 in payment plans. Tax liens represented 37 per cent of total arrears.

During a post-meeting scrum, Mayor Clive Tolley said he believed his job was to help grow the city and make it a positive economic environment where people could acquire a living wage, afford a home, put their kids through school and pay the bills.

“Whenever there’s somebody struggling to meet those basic needs — their underemployed or unemployed — I’m always hoping that we can do better,” he said. “… in every city there’s going to be some people (who) are having a struggle paying their bills, and certainly the cost of groceries, gasoline, all the materials you need for a new house — everything’s just skyrocketed.”

During economic development week from May 15 to 19, the mayor visited the Brandt Industries trailer manufacturing plant and filmed a video about how people who work there earned a decent living wage. Tolley believed that was one way to promote the economy and the high-paying jobs here.

While some residents work multiple jobs and there are some homeless people here, Tolley pointed out it’s less expensive to live in Moose Jaw than in other Canadian cities and most people can make ends meet.

Property taxes receivable

Property tax receivable consists of tax arrears and taxes owing. Tax arrears are overdue taxes, while current taxes are due but have not fallen into arrears. Taxes fall into arrears in the next year following the levy of taxes.

The total outstanding property taxes receivable as of March 31 — and those in arrears — was $2,998,855. No current taxes were outstanding since this was the first quarter.

In comparison, total property taxes receivable that were outstanding by the end of Q1 2022 were $2,859,803, followed by $3,788,665 in 2021, $2,526,855 in 2020 and $2,195,054 in 2018.

Borrowing/debt

As of March 31, there were seven projects that the City of Moose Jaw was still repaying — or guaranteeing — after borrowing money to finance them.

The principal outstanding amount on each project was:

Multiplex/Events Centre long-term loan: $11,886,000 Sanitary sewer long-term loan: $257,000

· Waterworks capital long-term loan: $22,772,000 High-service pumphouse: $7,563,000

· Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation loan term loan (Bank of Montreal): $10,004,020

· Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation loan term loan (TD Bank): $14,881,359.22

· Moose Jaw Municipal Airport Guarantee: $1 million These seven projects total $68,363,379.22; the debt limit is $95 million.

Meanwhile, the City of Moose Jaw is committed to a Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation loan term loan of $14,300,000 in 2024. That amount will appear on the books that year.

City to use longer-lasting material during this year’s street line painting program

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

For motorists wondering in which lane they’re supposed to drive on main thoroughfares, city hall will soon be out painting lines to make navigating the streets easier and safer.

City administration and senior leadership have been discussing this year’s line-painting program, which will see city crews apply a new type of solid-based paint material that lasts longer, explained Bevan Harlton, director of engineering, during the recent city council meeting.

The project tender has closed and the department has procured the paint, while staff have confirmed their machines can use liquid and have given the material safety data sheets to the safety officer, he continued. Meanwhile, the streets and roads supervisor was in Regina recently to review that city’s line painting program to see if there was anything Moose Jaw could copy.

“Next week (starting May 29), after some commis-

sioning, we’ll start with line painting,” Harlton added. “I would say its fair (that) there’s been a delay in change in material. (We) would normally be about three weeks ahead.”

Ticketing tourist vehicles

The mayor’s office has received many calls recently about bylaw officers ticketing out-of-province vehicles because those motorists thought they were exempt from having to fill the parking meters, Mayor Clive Tolley said.

“Years ago — at least this is what people are telling me — tickets were not issued to vehicles with out-ofprovince licence plates as a courtesy to our visiting shoppers,” he stated.

Tolley then submitted an inquiry to city administration asking it to review bylaw 5556 and provide a response about whether this policy exists and what it is about.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

TO THE EDITOR LETTERS

OPEN LETTER TO POLICE CHIEF RICK BOURASSA

Dear Chief, I attended the Spring 2023 Citizen Police Academy and it was very enlightening & interesting. Your Officers (especially Taylor Elder, Reggie Pawl, & Jamie Hoffman) did a great job in organizing and overseeing each presentation.

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JUNE 13.

The public works department plans to spend over half-a-million dollars to replace its 13-year-old John Deere grader with a new, high-tech machine that requires less maintenance and enhances safety.

During its May 23 regular meeting, city council authorized the department to issue a tender for the replacement of unit 141 — originally scheduled for replacement in 3.5 years — and budget the replacement at $510,000.

Of this amount, $288,389 will come from depreciated savings, $215,200 from savings on equipment purchased this year and $6,411 from other savings.

City hall expects to receive the grader within six months of awarding the tender — just in time for winter.

The hydraulic system on the grader has failed, which is a problem since it operates most functions on the machine, explained Rod Montgomery, acting public works director.

The initial repair quote was $95,734, but that is just to rip down the system, while staff are certain the cost will increase based on their experiences of fixing buses, he continued.

Guidelines for Submitting Letters to the Editor:

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

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

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

The other officers that did presentations in their expert fields also were very professional and informative.

There were many questions asked of them and they answered all of them.

You could see all the presenters were very engaged with their area of expertise and enjoyed sharing with the class.

With living most of my life in Moose Jaw, I did

Send your letters to the editor to:

jritchie@moosejawtoday.com or 888-241-5291

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

not realize all the areas of work our officers do every day, and you can see that they do live by the Motto of “Serve and Protect” .

Again, thank you for offering this opportunity and I would highly recommend anyone with an interest of our Police Force to submit their name for their next Academy.

Regards

Brian Martynook

Public works dept. to buy new, modern grader for $510K

Furthermore, fleet services staff are also confident that the municipality would be wasting money repairing the vehicle, which has more than 10,000 service hours; a typical grader is usually replaced around 12,500 hours.

While the City of Moose Jaw has four graders, public works could operate this summer with three units until the new unit arrives this winter, Montgomery said.

An alternative to purchasing new would be to lease another unit for $15,000 a month, which is why city administration recommended replacing the unit entirely.

A new motor grader would come with improved technology, such as GPS, automatic grading systems and advanced hydraulic systems, his report said. These features make the machine more efficient, precise and productive than older models.

New graders are also equipped with the latest safety features, such as backup cameras, collision avoidance systems and improved visibility, which enhance safety for the operator and other workers on the job site, the document added. Council discussion

“We have to have graders … ,” said

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Coun. Crystal Froese. “It is nice to see that we’ve saved some money. That’s some pretty significant savings of $215,000, which is wonderful to hear.”

Froese then wondered how the department had acquired those savings.

Perry Lanneville, fleet services supervisor, explained that the department has replaced 12 light utility vehicles this year. Instead of tendering the complete vehicle to one company, he has spread out the tenders so one company builds the body and another builds the chassis. This has allowed him to save “a fair bit of money.”

Coun. Doug Blanc said he has driven past Brandt Industries in Regina several times and seen numerous graders on the lot. He wondered why city hall didn’t purchase one of those.

Lanneville replied that most times, other companies or municipalities have already purchased those machines and are sitting there for delivery or pickup.

This grader has averaged 769 hours per year during the last 13 years, Blanc said, with Lanneville acknowledging that the average is 700 to 900 hours per annum.

Blanc also expressed concern about

waiting until the fall for the machine because of increased costs. Lanneville replied that increased costs are a regular occurrence in the industry. He noted that the city paid $185,000 for a new transit bus some time ago, while a new one is now $235,000.

“It’s just astronomical how much these prices are increasing,” he said, adding the department would sell the old grader at a public auction and recoup some money.

Coun. Dawn Luhning noted that much of the public works’ equipment is old and outdated. She wondered why the department didn’t just lease gear instead of purchasing it, especially considering the new grader’s cost.

The finance department has periodically conducted analyses on leasing versus buying, but one thing the municipality benefits from is being able to self-finance purchases at low costs, explained finance director Brian Acker. While there have been “very rare” occasions to lease equipment, the city has purchased most items at lower expenses.

Fans attending para-hockey tourney can ride buses for free, council says

Thousands of people are expected to visit Moose Jaw in late May for the World Para Hockey Championship, so to make their stay more enjoyable, city hall is offering them free bus rides.

During its May 23 regular meeting, city council voted 6-1 to authorize transit services to extend complimentary (free) conventional transit service to athletes, families, officials, volunteers and valid weekend pass holders for the 2023 championship, which occurs from May 28 to June 4.

Coun. Kim Robinson was opposed. Hockey Canada and World Para Ice Hockey announced on March 27 that the City of Moose Jaw’s Events Centre would host the event. As part of its tournament bid, the city offered to provide in-kind services — such as free para-transit services — to help make the event a success.

City administration understood that the City of Moose Jaw had provided similar in-kind services to support other events, such as the Snowbirds’ 50th-anniversary reunion in October 2022 and world wheelchair curling championships in March, said Rod Montgomery, acting director of public works.

Offering this free transit would not affect this year’s budgeted revenues or its

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

expenses, he continued. The service would only be included during normal operations and would be at no extra charge to the municipality.

“The city wants to put its best foot forward,” Montgomery stated, noting one benefit of this is the downtown could be less congested with vehicles during games.

The provincial government — through Tourism Saskatchewan — is contributing $45,000 to the event, while municipal officials expect the event to generate $2 million in economic spinoff.

Council comments

Robinson asked city administration whether anyone had calculated the cost of offering free bus service to the entire city during the tournament. He thought city hall was penalizing residents who didn’t attend the event by making them pay full bus prices while using tax dollars to subsidize tournament attendees.

City administration did not think of that because this option had zero economic effect on the budget and would be a neutral expense, said Montgomery. The municipality could face negative financial effects by suddenly making this a citywide offer.

“I don’t know what that cost would be because we did not take that into consid-

eration, nor did we think of it as a wish of council,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the para-transit division has been working behind the scenes with the host committee to move teams and officials to their destinations, Montgomery said.

“This (request) is just something a little bit different. We just wanted to make it more inclusive, that anybody with a valid pass, they can access transit,” he added.

Said Mayor Clive Tolley, “I think that’s a great thing for the City of Moose Jaw to offer: get our buses busier (and) offer that free service to visitors.”

Coun. Heather Eby, a member of the host committee, explained that each para-hockey team has its own bus for trans-

portation — some buses are from the city, while others are from other communities. Also, Hockey Canada has secured vehicles to transport officials to the rink.

“The City of Moose Jaw has been great in supporting the transportation, but it is augmented heavily with other buses from elsewhere,” she added.

While Coun. Doug Blanc supported the motion, the one problem he saw was it was only useful during normal transit hours. He pointed out that while buses will drop off fans at the Events Centre in the late afternoon, when the games finish around 9:30 p.m., they must find their own way home. He wished city hall had also expanded transit hours to later in the evening.

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JUNE 13.

The installation of a new 18-hole disc golf course in the Sunningdale area is closer to happening, as city council has agreed to pursue an agreement with the neighbourhood association.

During its May 23 regular meeting, council voted unanimously to approve the licensing and construction agreement with the Sunningdale VLA Community Association Inc. for the construction, use, operation and maintenance of a disc golf venue in Sunningdale Nature Park near the school.

This agreement occurred after the association pitched the project during the April 10 executive committee meeting.

City administration has worked closely over the past month with the association to develop a licensing and construction agreement that will meet the needs of both parties while creating new and exciting recreational opportunities, a council report explained.

The association is responsible for all capital construction and programming costs and for installing the course and signage for roughly $12,000.

Council comments

Coun. Crystal Froese pointed out that Wakamow Valley has an 18-hole disc golf course that’s popular, while the community disc golf club has over 250 members on its Facebook page. She’s seen people play in the winter, which indicates just how “hardcore” the sport is.

She wondered what would happen to the association’s money if it dissolved.

New disc golf course officially coming to Sunningdale area this summer

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Since city hall is the group’s main funding source, all its assets would return to municipal coffers if it folded, said Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation. He added that the group hopes to have the course operational this summer.

Agreement highlights

The five-year agreement starts June 1 and renews automatically thereafter unless either party amends or terminates it.

The association can make — at its own expense — alterations, additions or improvements to the course for construction, although it must submit a detailed proposal for review to city hall — and receive approval — before commencing any work, the report said.

The group must provide the city with a detailed layout of the course, including locations of tee boxes and basket locations, while ensuring tee boxes and baskets are a minimum of three metres and six metres away, respectively, from pathways.

Furthermore, it must provide a detailed plan for course signage, including liability and warning signs, maps, rules and hole signs at each tee box, the report said. It must also give detailed installation plans for signs, tee boxes and baskets and ensure landscape fabric and granular materials are installed to limit weed growth and trimming needs.

The association will be responsible for all expenses for construction, operation, management and course repair, including any future capital renewal projects, while

it can retain any program revenue to offset the cost of running community programs for residents.

City hall must provide written consent before the association can install any advertising signs or displays, while the group can retain any revenue from ads or sponsorships as long as it uses the funds to improve the course or for other community projects and programs, the report said.

The association must pay the municipality all expenses the latter incurs to remove any property from the course after the termination of the agreement.

Moreover, it must incorporate — and remain incorporated — under The Non-Profit Corporations Act of Saskatchewan during the agreement’s length and provide city hall with a copy of its Saskatchewan Corporate Registry profile report within 30 days of receipt from the corporation’s branch.

Also, the association must maintain an insurance policy of $5 million.

Some of the municipality’s responsibilities are to provide garbage receptacles throughout the course; maintain the lands and adjacent pathways, remove snow, collect garbage, trim trees and cut the grass monthly; co-ordinate a grand opening ceremony for the public and media; assist with marketing and promotion using city communication and promotional platforms; and distribute discs for complimentary community use.

The report added that either party may terminate the agreement by providing 90 days’ notice.

City crews need safe work zones to fill potholes — so slow down, mayor urges

Mayor Clive Tolley is urging motorists to slow down while driving through construction zones so crews can safely repair the streets — including filling the many potholes that plague the community.

The issue of those pesky, tire-destroying potholes arose during city council’s May 23 regular meeting, as Coun. Dawn Luhning inquired about what city administration’s plan was to fill the numerous road fissures throughout the community.

“I don’t drive the entire city all the time, but I do notice the same ones are not being filled,” she stated.

The public works department has been patching potholes for several weeks because the hot mix asphalt plant has started producing material, said Bevan Harlton, director of engineering. City crews have also been milling — cutting out — square or rectangular sections of road and making more extensive repairs.

Some streets of focus include Coteau Street West, Ninth Avenue Northwest and sections of Main Street north of the downtown. Meanwhile, crews have filled roughly 1,000 potholes year-to-date.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

“I hadn’t heard of anything that’s preventing or holding up our public crew from getting that work done. From our updates, it’s been moving forward pretty efficiently,” added Harlton.

Those crews have been focusing on addressing priority 1 streets because they contain bus routes, said Rod Montgomery, acting director of public works. He also reiterated that staff are milling sections of streets, so instead of filling in numerous potholes in a patchwork manner, they are cutting out parts and leaving behind new squares of asphalt.

The focus on priority 1 streets caught Luhning’s attention, who pointed out that 13th Avenue Northwest from Grace Street to Caribou Street has numerous fissures.

“Hopefully it is on the list because that is a bus route and it is awful,” she added.

Coun. Doug Blanc recalled attending the recent Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association conference, where he visited a display featuring a cold mix asphalt material that the vendor — who gave the councillor a small bag of material — guaranteed would work in the winter. He wondered if city administration had considered this material.

Harlton replied that he hadn’t investigated alternatives to hot mix asphalt but would consider discussing this new material — and would gladly accept Blanc’s sample.

When asked about potholes during a post-meeting scrum, Mayor Clive Tolley said the city has been running campaigns to encourage motorists to slow down in

construction zones. He pointed out that crews erect barricades to work, but motorists regularly disregard them and drive speed through.

“If there’s a barricade there, it’s for a reason. And we want our employees to be safe and be able to work on our streets and roads and do this patching without being worried somebody’s going to clip them,” he stated. “… it’s supposed to be slow down to 30 km/h.”

Tolley also thought the municipality should investigate using the new cold mix asphalt material in the winter. While the hot mix asphalt plant is now producing material, he pointed out Moose Jaw faces the same dilemma as other municipalities: a lack of money to fix continually deteriorating infrastructure.

According to the website CanInfra, the infrastructure deficit in Canada averages between $110 billion and $270 billion — or higher in some estimates.

Moose Jaw is always looking for federal funding for projects but isn’t always successful, such as with its recent application for money for the new outdoor pool rebuild that Ottawa turned down, said Tolley. However, the municipality must always have shovel-ready projects to pursue any funding opportunities that arise.

The mayor saw his job as attempting to grow the city by encouraging more commercial and industrial businesses to come here so they create jobs and generate revenue through property assessments. Those actions could help Moose Jaw hold its own financially when dealing with infrastructure.

Event Centre’s Q1 deficit was two-thirds less than expected, report shows

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

The Moose Jaw Events Centre saw a deficit of more than $50,000 in the first quarter of 2023, which was nearly two-thirds less than budgeted for that period.

Meanwhile, the venue’s food and beverage sales saw a net profit of $104,884.

From Jan. 1 to March 31, the Multiplex had actual revenues of $739,186 and actual expenses of $743,324.

While this led to a slight operating loss of $4,138, after including the $100 expense for Ticket Rocket gift cards, $47,431 for the management fee and $875 in revenue for client building rentals, the venue finished the quarter with a deficit of $50,794. This represented a cost recovery rate of 93.48 per cent.

In comparison, building manager OVG360 had budgeted $689,251 in revenue and $796,539 in expenses, leading to an expected operating loss — after adding the management fee of $46,452 — of $150,364.

Therefore, the difference between the actual and

budgeted income, expenses and net loss was $49,935, -$53,215 and -$99,570.

City administration presented the first-quarter financial report during the May 23 regular city council meeting. Included in the document was financial information about the Events Centre/Multiplex.

Council later unanimously voted to receive and file the report.

Food and beverage sales

From Jan. 1 to March 31, OVG360 generated $462,801 in total concession and catering sales, while the total cost of goods was $157,777. This led to a total gross sales profit of $305,024.

After removing total payroll, total variable expenses, management incentives and management fee, the net profit was $104,884.

These numbers were based on 59 events that attracted 43,261 people during the first three months of this year.

Recollections from “good old days” back on the farm TRADING THOUGHTS

A recent article discussing difficulties of getting into the farming business explained that the cost of a new tractor is now around $1 million.

Farmland sells from $1,000 an acre to over $3,000 depending on the soil and productivity. I remember when farmland sold for $10 an acre. What a change!

The article got me recalling a 1950’s incident when I was 13. The Christensens, living two miles down the road were retiring and selling the farm.

I was sad. When I walked home from school I often stopped into their place— only one-half mile from the school. Mrs. Christensen always had a cookie and glass of milk or hot chocolate for me and a nice visit.

If the weather turned bad she would use the fence line phone to let my folks know I was okay or needed a ride home for two miles.

When I heard they were selling I encouraged my father and uncle to buy the two section (1,280 acres) farm. Asking price was $12,000. They wouldn’t consider buying. They said the price was too high.

The land sold to neighbours from 15 miles away for the asking price of just over $9 an acre.

The White Brothers farmed it for over 40 years, sell-

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JUNE 13.

The parks and recreation department was busy upgrading the Golden Ticket Sports Centre during the first three months of 2023 and ensuring the venue’s businesses could continue operating there.

According to a city council report about the first-quarter activities of each department, parks and rec pursued five projects at the sporting venue — formerly the Hillcrest Sports Centre — from Jan. 1 to March 31.

Phase 1 of the building’s roof replacement ($860,627) that began in 2022 was near completion by the end of Q1, while contractors were expected to address some minor deficiencies in the second quarter.

Moreover, a consultant finalized the detailed design specifications for the request for proposals (RFP) for phase 2 ($352,552) of the roof replacement, with the RFP issued during Q2 and the project expected to be finished in Q3.

The department also handled the insurance claim at the sporting venue after a flood from the October storm damaged the floor. Contractors have repaired all damaged areas in the building, while the department is working with the municipality’s insurance provider to recover the damages through the roof contractor’s insurance provider.

Meanwhile, the department helped co-ordinate ductwork for a new roof-top unit ($58,961) in Q1. The city has ordered the new units and expects to receive them

ing the farm for $3 million. Granted their sale included a slew of oil wells that brought in a lot of cash revenue.

The woman who bought the farm with money from a divorce settlement has never lived there, never seeded a crop, taking years before renting the place.

All she wanted was the surface rights cash from the oil wells to keep her lifestyle intact.

No wonder starting to farm from scratch is so difficult.

The farmer can’t trust just anybody to operate that $1 million tractor or the $600,000 combine.

Back then, there was little need for skills to work on the farm.

In our district, as in many districts, one fellow did a lot of the temporary farm jobs that came up when someone had to leave for a while or was sick.

Nick Bullabrook was hired to do chores and look after the place.

Nick lived on a farm we owned three miles away. He located there to help the former-owner John Salem. When John sold to us, Nick stayed in his shack.

Nick could barely read and didn’t drive a gas-powered vehicle. He went everywhere with his buggy and

By Ron Walter For Moose Jaw Express

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

horse.

For decades, this portly old bachelor lived in his shack, doing farm chores to supplement his meagre pension.

In the 1970s, Nick decided to move the shack into town and join the dozen permanent residents. It was closer to the post office and the general store

When Nick died, his shack and shed were sold at auction. A local farmer paid less than $200, wanting the coal.

He got a real bargain, finding a tobacco can in the coal bin with over $4,000 inside.

Yep, those were the good old days.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Parks and rec pursued five repair projects at Golden Ticket venue in Q1

by September.

Lastly, the department issued an RFP for a new wheelchair lift ($45,298) at the sports centre, with the bidding closing in late March. The project is over budget, so parks and rec is working with proponents on potential scope changes to reduce costs.

Excluding the insurance claim, the four projects totalled $1,317,438 — all of which council approved during the 2023 budget discussions.

Coun. Doug Blanc explained during the recent regular council meeting that a resident called him with concerns about the Golden Ticket Sports Centre because of how much money city hall has spent there in the past year, especially with insurance claims after the October snowstorm.

Since several private sports-related businesses are inside the venue, Blanc wondered whether city hall taxes them as it does the WHL Moose Jaw Warriors at the Events Centre.

“They are not being taxed, but we do receive a portion of the revenues that are generated,” replied Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation.

In May 2021, city council signed a five-year lease and operating agreement with Lloydminster-based Golden Ticket Sports Inc. The agreement allowed the city to maximize residents’ access to the venue while providing

much-needed indoor gymnasium space in the community. The municipality’s responsibility is to ensure the building remains structurally and mechanically functional. Golden Ticket will assist by providing five per cent of annual revenues to a maximum of $25,000 annually to the reserve fund.

The company — which specializes in player, coach, official and multi-sport events and clinics —invested more than $300,000 into building upgrades during the first few months it operated the venue.

Projects awarded

Parks and rec awarded 11 tender projects from Jan. 1 to March 31, with some including:

- $119,870 to Fer-Marc Equipment Ltd. for a new ice resurfacer

- $150,000 to Cimco Refrigeration for a dehumidifier replacement at Pla-Mor Palace

- $780,100 to C&E Mechanical for a cooling system replacement at the Cultural Centre

- $394,000 to Westridge Construction to repair the Events Centre roof after another contractor damaged it; a third-party insurance claim funded this repair

- $139,950 to 1080 Architecture Planning + Interiors for detailed designs for the new outdoor pool changeroom building

City investments grew nearly $4M during this year’s Q1, report shows

The City of Moose Jaw’s investment portfolios gained nearly $4 million during this year’s first quarter, while they have generated over $18 million since they were invested nearly four years ago.

During city council’s May 23 regular meeting, the investment committee presented a report dealing with the first-quarter results. Council then voted unanimously to receive and file the document.

The report showed there was $74,527,829.86 in the long-term portfolio and $25,507,685.20 in the moderate-term portfolio as of March 31, for a total of $100,035,515.06.

Long-term portfolio

From Jan. 1 to March 31, the long-term portfolio grew by 3.24 per cent and generated $2,323,842.01. This amount — along with $905,184 in invested capital money — increased the portfolio to $74,527,829.86 from $71,298,803.85.

Moderate-term portfolio

From Jan. 1 to March 31, the moderate-term portfolio grew by 2.25 per cent and generated $554,194.56. This increased the portfolio to $25,207,685.20 from $24,653,490.64.

Combined, both portfolios gained $3,783,220.57 during the first quarter, equal to roughly 11.4 percentage points of municipal taxation, considering one percentage point this year is $330,701.

Since the inception of the portfolios in 2019, they have provided total returns of $18,026,927.

Portfolio changes

Jason G. Antonio -

During the investment committee’s meeting, it made three changes to how it invests money in both portfolios.

Mayor Clive Tolley moved that the City of Moose Jaw reinvest maturing GIC funds (after withdrawals) in the moderate-term portfolio into two-year GIC bond investments within the fixed income policy and return to a neutral-asset mix by the end of Q2; the motion passed.

Tolley also moved that remaining maturing GIC funds in the long-term portfolio be reallocated to actively managed fixed-income investments due to limited potential withdrawals not required until 2025 while maintaining a neutral-asset mix; the motion passed.

Coun. Dawn Luhning moved that the forecasted 2024 withdrawal of $3 million from the long-term portfolio be paid out to the City of Moose Jaw’s operating account; the motion passed.

Comments on portfolios

The first quarter saw positive economic returns, and despite 2022 being a difficult year in the financial world, the portfolio’s returns have been close to the city’s targets since inception, Luhning said during the council meeting.

She explained that the municipality’s investment policy is based on a long-term timeline, which allows the city to weather short-term downturns in the market, as happened last year.

Moreover, the investment committee has structured the investments so there are liquid assets — such as GICs — that mature in the coming years, ensuring the committee does not need to sell equity or bond investments in those down years to fund planned cash-flow needs.

Portfolio manager RBC Dominion Securities will re-balance both portfolios when the market is stronger to a neutral-asset mix by adding bonds and GIC investments when appropriate, Luhning added.

Future outlook

In its Global Investment Outlook, RBC said it still expects a recession in the next year despite the economy starting strong. That strength has come from a positive labour market, buoyant consumer spending and a slight easing of financial conditions, and China’s reopening and Europe’s resilience despite facing energy-price shocks.

The massive and sudden surge in interest rates during the past year continues to cause economic pain, as RBC is seeing weakness in the housing market, riding goods inventories, diminished business confidence and scaledback capital spending. Moreover, several U.S. regional banks have collapsed.

“We assign a 70-per-cent chance to a recession materializing and expect that it will occur in the second half of this year … ,” RBC said. “The anticipated recession’s depth, duration and the speed of the subsequent recovery are similar to our prior assumptions and remain a bit more pessimistic than the consensus.”

RBC is also seeing inflation on a downward trajectory, a multi-year period of the U.S. dollar experiencing significant weakness that will benefit other major world economies, fewer — or none — interest-rate hikes, bond yields returning to long-term norms, and other countries besides the U.S. providing market leadership.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Moose Jaw Express

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JUNE 13.

City council has authorized city administration to update five bylaws that deal with local improvement plan construction costs, business licences, municipal taxation, mobile home licences and property tax submission deadlines.

Council gave three unanimous readings to the amendments during its recent regular meeting. Since no one on council opposed the changes, the amendments went into effect immediately.

Uniform rates bylaw

City hall uses the uniform rates bylaw to set fixed financial costs for units of work — usually per metre of frontage — when undertaking local improvement plans (LIPs) in neighbourhoods. It also uses the bylaw to inform third parties about the cost of pursuing municipal construction work.

The new costs versus old costs (in square metres unless otherwise noted) are:

Arterial road reconstruction with pavement: $160 / $175

Collector road reconstruction with pavement: $145 / $175

Local/residential road reconstruction with pavement: $120 / $145

Road reconstruction with gravel: $75 / $80

Road capping: $25 / N/A

Road resurfacing: $40 / $45

Separate/floating sidewalk: $250 / $260

Sidewalk with curb and gutter (linear metre): $350 / $375

Curb and gutter only (linear metre): $230 / $265

Tree and stump removal (each): $1,500 / $1,700

Business licensing bylaw

municipal taxes, mobile home licences, tax deadlines

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

The new business licensing bylaw will reflect the current standards and practices and provide updated licence fees.

In particular, the department of planning and development will now issue business licences instead of financial services, which reflects the practical process of reviewing applications for permits, a council report said.

Furthermore, the updated bylaw eliminates the need for a physical registry of licensed businesses and creates an online database instead, provides simplified language around violations for non-compliance, removes explanations of administrative processes, allows for increased flexibility in handling administrative tasks, creates regulations for specific businesses and creates — for the first time — an appeal process for individuals denied a business licence.

The fees have also been updated, including (new vs. old):

Category A (annual revenue under $50K): $30 / $25

Category B (annual revenue between $50K and $500K): $150 / $125

Category C (annual revenue over $500K): $300 / $250

Transient: $441 / $350

Property tax bylaw

The property tax bylaw establishes the municipal rates of taxation for this year, defines the classes and subclasses, and enumerates the mill rate factors for each subclass.

Furthermore, it excludes from the supplement roll property assessments that generate under $100 in taxation

revenue and sets a standard base tax on all property classes to contribute to the waterworks capital fund to partially fund the cast iron replacement program and the parks and recreation capital fund.

A levy of $100 will be applied to most property classes to fund the waterworks capital expense fund and to partially fund cast iron replacement.

A levy of $65 will be applied to most property classes to fund parks and rec capital projects and the new outdoor pool.

Mobile home licensing

The purpose of the updated mobile home licensing bylaw is to establish fees for this year, establish additional annual fees for infrastructure ($100) and parks and rec ($65) initiatives, create an annual due date (June 30) to pay the additional fees and update language with fee payments to clarify monthly charges.

Tax payments, discounts, penalties

Updating the tax payments, discounts and penalties bylaw enables city hall to extend the due date for property taxes to July 31 from June 30.

The reason for this change is the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) is late in providing the city with the annual property assessments, which is delaying the municipality in issuing property tax notices for 2023. Moreover, the launch of city hall’s new software program is taking longer than expected.

Last year city hall collected $38,626 from late fees; it expects to collect slightly less this year.

says

A cancer survivor is reminding Moose Javians that excess UV radiation can damage skin, which is why it’s important to protect the largest organ of the body.

Kathy Barnard, founder of the Penticton, British Columbia-based Save Your Skin Foundation, virtually thanked city council during its May 23 regular meeting for proclaiming May as “Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month” in Moose Jaw.

The North Vancouver resident explained that she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — in 2003, and by 2005, doctors gave her six months to live after cancer spread throughout her body.

“I never would have imagined that my childhood days spent at the lake or playing softball would lead to such a deadly, life-threatening situation for (me),” she said.

Barnard explained that with summer nearly here, residents must practise sun safety and be vigilant, informed and aware of the potential risks of overexposure to UV radiation, which is allegedly one of the major causes of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Though skin cancers — the most common — should be largely preventable, their diagnosis rates have been increasing, she continued. One in six Canadians born in the

1990s will likely acquire skin cancer in his or her lifetime, while there are more new cases of skin cancer yearly than the number of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined.

While doctors can surgically remove most non-melanoma skin cancers, melanoma is so aggressive that the five-year survival rate of melanoma that has metastasized — spread to other parts of the body — is 18 per cent, Barnard said.

Meanwhile, melanoma is the seventh-most common cancer in Canada and fourth-most common for people aged 15 to 29.

Despite these figures, many people still seek the sun — or tanning beds and lamps — without taking precautionary measures or believe only severe burns contribute to skin cancer, she stated. The research allegedly shows that any darkening of skin colour — including a tan — indicates that the skin has experienced UV damage.

“Early detection and prevention are crucial in fighting this type of cancer,” Barnard said. “While no cancer — including melanoma — can be prevented, there is good news. The risk factors are well known and steps can be taken to significantly reduce the risk of developing this

deadly disease.”

Residents should follow these tips while outdoors: always carry sunscreen, use SPF 30 sunscreen even during cloudy days, wear protective clothing, regularly check for new moles or changes in existing ones, limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., avoid tanning beds, and have your skin examined every three years for those under age 40 and yearly for those over 40.

Barnard also encouraged city administration to incorporate sun safety measures when designing new buildings or outdoor venues.

More than 50 Canadian municipalities have responded to the Save Your Skin Foundation’s call during the past two years to proclaim May as “Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month,” she added.

Founded in 2006, the Save Your Skin Foundation is a non-profit registered charity dedicated to the fight against non-melanoma skin cancers, melanoma and ocular melanoma through education, advocacy and awareness initiatives. It also provides funding to people who must travel — across town or outside of the province — for medical appointments.

Extra snow clearing, unexpected utility fees hiked public works’ Q1 expenses by $430K

Expenses in the public works department were more than $400,000 over budget during the first quarter of this year because of extra winter activities and a “misallocation” of power costs.

The department saw expenses of $1,840,018 from Jan. 1 to March 31 versus $1,410,832 during the same period last year, a difference of $429,186, according to a report about city hall’s first-quarter activities presented during the May 23 regular meeting.

One major increase was in snow operations, where the city budgeted $1,086,908 for snow clearance this year and

had spent $550,449 — 51 per cent — during the first three months of 2023.

City hall has likely used 65 per cent of that budget because of snow-clearing activities after March, said finance director Brian Acker. Since there is still half a year to go, the municipality would likely be over budget but has a reserve account from which to pull extra money.

The second area of increase was in the Other Services category, which was 259 per cent over budget due to a “misallocation” of power costs that had to be redirected to other areas, the first-quarter report said. The department had budgeted $90,639 this year in that category, but by April 1, costs had ballooned to $234,493.

Acker indicated utility costs for streetlights were flowing into that category but have gone into the protective services account. He chalked up the issue to city hall moving to a new software account.

Streetlight expenses are roughly $70,000 per month, so more than two months’ worth of expenses — $143,854 — had flowed into the wrong account before city officials redirected them into the proper category.

“We actually pay almost $1 million a year in street lighting for the City of Moose Jaw, so not an insignificant cost,” Acker added.

Meanwhile, public works split its “Workshop area” into workshop and fleet, with the former on budget — 38 per cent of revenues are spent — while the latter was roughly $600,000 over budget, the first-quarter report said.

“A good portion of this overage relates to annual costs such as insurance coming into this quarter and a shift in rental charges from hourly to kilometre-based to annual-based charges,” the document stated. “Annual rental charges only come in the fourth quarter of each year. Further analysis and review (are) occurring in the fleet services area.”

Among other things, the report showed that regular transit service revenues and expenses were both at $351,141 by the end of Q1, which was 22 per cent of the $1,573,312 budget. The one area trending above budget was in vehicle maintenance, where $163,193 — or 38 per cent — had been spent out of the budgeted $1,573,312.

“The increase in vehicle maintenance costs is partly related to fuel costs, which are up compared to 2022, as well as additional vehicle repair costs,” the report noted.

Para-transit service was also seeing similar cost increases in maintenance and fuel costs. Vehicle maintenance costs were at $32,623, which was 33 per cent of the $99,774 budget.

Residents should practise sun safety to prevent skin cancer, advocate

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

By Ron Walter For Moose Jaw Express

Canadian fashion retailer could accessorize market profits

Fashion retailers are not usually desirable or acceptable as stock market investments.

Trends in fashions are fickle, shifting rapidly turning that valuable inventory on the books into heavily discounted junk overnight.

Vancouver-based Aritzia Inc. might just be the exception. In 39 years, this retailer has grown from one outlet in the Oakridge Mall in Vancouver to 114 units in Canada and the United States.

The pandemic year of 2019, when stores were closed, was the only poor year for sales which have jumped in recent years.

With 68 stores in Canada and 46 in the United States, there is plenty of opportunity to expand. California, with 10 stores, has the most of any state. Many states have only one Aritzia store.

Expansion has been rapid from 21 stores in 2007 to 79 units 10 years later.

Plans are to expend across the United States. Today only about 10 states have outlets in the U.S.

Aritzia’s investor attraction is more than just expan-

sion. The company watches profit margins and expenses closely with increasing margins often happening.

The $3 million investment in a new store is returned within 12 to 18 months as sales regularly reach $1,000 per square foot. The target market is women aged 14-30, an age when fashion awareness is a high priority, especially among professionals.

Aritzia has no long-term debt and finances expansion from profits. Last year five new stores were opened.

The company recently added men’s wear with an acquisition.

Exclusive lines of branded clothes designed by Aritzia are the chain’s lifeblood

Revenues for the last year increased 64 per cent and were up 53 per cent the previous year.

Profit last year was $1.86 a share compared with $1.53 the year before.

About one-third of the $1.4 billion revenues comes from E-commerce to 200 countries E-commerce revenues increased 150 per cent from 2020 to 2022.

On the Yahoo Finance site nine analyst predictions

see the stock price range between $44 and $60 with an average of $50.

Current price is $36.65. The stock sells for 20 times earning — an expected ratio for a profitable fast growing company.

The company is immune to a takeover as the founding Hill family controls the corporation with multiple vote shares.

The stock is not without risk.

Sudden shifts in fashion could cut sales. A recession as may happen can reduce sales. Loss of overseas manufacturing capacity due to geopolitical tensions could hurt.

But this is a stock worth watching and could really dress up an investor’s portfolio.

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

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

City lets students explore heavy equipment during

Public Works Week open house

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

The City of Moose Jaw held an open house at its city complex on 1010 High Street West on May 24 to celebrate Public Works Week, giving hundreds of students the opportunity to check out the machines employees use daily.

Public Works Week occurred from May 21 to 27 and had the theme of “Connecting The World Through Public Works,” which aimed to highlight how public works professionals connect residents physically through infrastructure and inspirationally through community

service.

Roughly 200 students from five elementary schools — Sacred Heart, St. Michael, Empire, Lindale and St. Agnes — descended upon the yard to learn more about the machines and play some fun games related to the work public works staff do throughout the city.

High school students attended the

event earlier in the morning to learn about possible careers with the City of Moose Jaw.

City hall used the open house as an educational outreach activity to not only showcase the equipment and services it has, but also inform students now so they can better as adults understand how the city operates and functions.

Which of these items will float and which will sink? Piper A.

to determine

Kim Elkin with the City of Moose Jaw (in green) explains how an ice cleaning machine works to Lindale School student Brock. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Asher M. from St. Michael School takes a seat inside a skid steer. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

and Aubrey C. from Lindale School throw objects into a pool

their buoyancy while lifeguard Channing Bowes watches. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Hey, it’s a me, Mario! Keaton B. from Empire School reacts after seeing his reflection in the mirror. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Hannah M. from Sacred Heart Elementary School paints her name onto the blade of a plow during the open house at the city yards. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Burke Wood, a labourer in the waterworks department, shows students from Lindale School how water meter equipment works. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Mower operator Carla Watamaniuk (right) explains to a student how the machine works. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Souls Harbour ‘Love Your Neighbour’ Banquet brings update on new facility

Project might take some time, but fundraising work well underway as Souls Harbour, Riverside Mission continue work to help the disadvantaged Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Much of the focus throughout the Souls Harbour ‘Love Your Neighbour’ fundraising banquet on Wednesday night surrounded the construction of the new facility in Moose Jaw.

Specifically, if it was going to happen at all given the lengthy ongoing timeline.

Souls Harbour executive director Joe Miller had good news, though -- things are moving along, fundraising is coming together and it’s only a matter of time before folks see equipment at work on the site on the corner of River Street and Second Avenue N.W.

Around 70 people took part in the sixth annual edition of the banquet at Grant Hall, getting a general idea of how

Souls Harbour is doing these days to go along with the building update.

“For us, any fundraiser and this banquet in particular, the hope is that we come here and present well what we’re doing,” Miller said. “People are here because they know there’s a need and we hope that we can explain what we’re doing to address that need in the community.”

A major part of that work in Moose Jaw focusses on Riverside Mission, with the new facility bringing a huge upgrade to what they can currently offer.

So where exactly do things stand?

The project is expected to cost $3 million once things are all said and done, with around $150,000 raised so far. Souls

Harbour has about $1.3 million in cash dedicated to the project and plans to liquidate assets in Regina to bring in another $700,000 to $1 million. From there, the plan is to mortgage the remainder of the balance and fundraise to cover that.

Once things are lined up in that direction, it’ll be time to get shovels in the ground.

“One of the things I’ve learned doing this over the years is you make a plan and you have to be flexible and able to change and that’s what we’re doing as we need to with this project,” Miller said. “We’re hoping that once everything gets going and construction begins we’ll see more donations come in and it’ll help things

move along even quicker.”

Until the new facility is completed, Riverside Mission will continue to work out of its building on Manitoba Street. That includes the daily free meals, help with shelter and clothing and all the usual assistance they give on a regular basis.

“We’re always busy,” said Rachel Mullens, Riverside Mission director of emergency services. “We’d like to say we’re going to eradicate homelessness and poverty, but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen, to be honest. So there will always be a job for us.”

Getting an update on the project was especially valuable given the questions surrounding things, Mullen said.

“I think people in the community were starting to say ‘is this ever going to happen’ and it was time for us to make a statement on that and explain what’s going on,” she said. “Joe did a great job of that and now we know how things are looking”

While Riverside continues to plug along, they can always use a bit of help. Mullens reported that the shelves are a touch bare when it comes to non-perishable food items and was hoping the community would help with that issue.

“Anytime we put that plea out Moose Jaw always rises to the occasion,” Mullens said. “So we’re busy but we’ll keep doing what we do.”

For more information on Souls Harbour and Riverside Mission, visit www. shrmsk.com.

New MJMAG

exhibits

explore

themes of migration, immigration, colonialism, 2SLGBTQ+ persons

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) will soon be opening their latest exhibits, which will run from May 26 to September 3 and explore perspectives on migration, immigration, colonial influences, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.

Jeannie Mah and Heidi McKenzie are the featured artists for the Norma Lang Art Gallery at the MJMAG. Mah and McKenzie are established and esteemed Canadian artists of colour working primarily with ceramics. Their combined exhibition is called tRACEs: Lines, Lives, Loves, and explores the narratives of two migrant/immigrant families through ceramic works that incorporate archival image. Particular attention is paid to the artist’s relationships with their fathers.

The opening reception for tRACEs is scheduled at the MJMAG for Friday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m., where guests will be introduced to the themes behind the exhibition and have a chance to hear from the artists themselves.

A separate opening reception will be held Wednesday, May 31 at 7 p.m. for PRIDE. Organized in partnership with MJ Pride in support of Pride Week, PRIDE is a community exhibition featuring works from Moose Jaw’s 2SLGBTQIA+ artists. Through their creativity, these artists express their unique experiences, identities, and histories. By appreciating diverse per-

spectives, Canadians can foster inclusivity, promote understanding, and ultimately build a more equitable and tolerant society.

Both Jeannie Mah and Heidi McKenzie have ancestral ties to migration and im-

migration. Regina-based Mah’s pieces pay tribute to her Chinese-Canadian heritage, specifically marking the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act — a highly discriminatory piece of legislation that

made life much harder for Chinese-Canadians for the over 20 years it was in effect. Through delicate porcelain vessels, Mah’s exhibition, titled Invitation au Voyage, captures the essence of the ongoing global influence of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain.

McKenzie, on the other hand, explores her father’s journey as an immigrant of colour from Colonial Trinidad to Canada, incorporating elements of her own mixed Indo-Caribbean and Irish heritage into her creations. Her exhibition is titled Brick by Brick: Absence vs Presence, and combines historical and contemporary photographs, ceramic sculptures, augmented reality, video, and sound projection to give voice to the often untold, undocumented, and disregarded stories of local Indigenous people and immigrant persons of colour who worked at the brick and clay factories in the region.

The regular exhibitions at the MJMAG offer a platform for artists to share their stories, ignite meaningful conversations, and foster a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry that Canadian culture has always been. Visitors and patrons of the arts are encouraged to attend the opening receptions for these exhibitions to engage with the artists and gain deeper insight into their inspirations and process.

tRACEs by Heidi McKenzie and Jeannie Mah opens May 26 and will be available to the community until September 3 (MJMAG/Facebook)

The Souls Harbour ‘Love Your Neighbour’ banquet drew plenty of supporters on Wednesday night.

Souls Harbour executive director Joe Miller presents the Rescuer Award to Faye Carlson in recognition of her many years of service to the mission.

Bevan Sthamann of Sthamann Homes receives a Diamond Sponsor award from Souls Harbour executive director Joe Miller.

Chantelle Fisher, general manager of Square One, conducts an interview with Souls Harbour director of addiction services Nathan McLean.

Riverside Mission director of emergency services Rachel Mullens conducts an interview with Souls Harbour director of addiction services Nathan McLean.

The Souls Harbour Rescue Mission will be building their new facility at the corner of Second Avenue and River Street West.

Heartland Hospice announces $693,974 raised in capital campaign for hospice care

Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw held its second annual Gala on May 25 at the Grant Hall Hotel, with a Black and White theme, silent auction, a raffle — and some enormous donor gifts.

“Hospice care is something people generally don’t think about until someone they care about requires it. Without dedicated hospice beds, the terminally ill must either have their family care for them in their final end-of-life days, or be relocated to the hospital,” Angela Sereda, chair of the Heartland Hospice board and the evening’s MC, said in her opening remarks.

Heartland Hospice was founded in 2014 and has been working ever since to increase the number of dedicated hospice beds at Pioneer Lodge on Albert St. They have built one bed so far, and have re ceived SHA approval to move ahead with an expansion that will result in the follow ing improvements:

• Three dedicated hospice-palliative bed rooms;

• family resource centre with reading ma terials and activities for children;

• A sacred space for the use of the whole facility;

• A dedicated family entrance separate from the long-term care section;

• A serenity garden, upon which much work has already been completed, and;

• Essential palliative care training for hospice staff.

“We are also extremely honoured to have members of the Bradford family with us this evening as our very special guests,” Sereda continued, “to share some of the inspirations their family carries from the life of their precious Maren.”

The Bradford family’s daughter Mar en died last year of mitochondrial disease at only six years old. Maren’s love of pan das, and the green colour of mitochondri al disease awareness, were the inspiration for the gala’s themes, including a dessert table stocked with her favourite snacks.

Maren benefited from hospice care during the final stages of her life, and her mother, Cathy Bradford, spoke to advo cate for increased hospice care resources in Moose Jaw.

“People don’t want to think about their loved ones getting sick, let alone passing away,” Bradford said in her emo tional address. “Our story is unique to us, but … we have learned so much through it. We believe Maren’s legacy will be the lessons and empathy that came from her journey here. Of course, it was too short. And lots of things are unfair. And I would give anything to have her back.

“We found our team of people,” Bradford said, as she related the efforts the family put in to making Maren’s life

By Gordon Edgar -

Express/MooseJawToday.com

Home;

• $75,000 from the Rigetti family;

• $150,000 from Hetherington Livestock;

• $150,000 from the Jameson family;

• More than $50,000 in anonymous donations, some from out of province.

Major donors received naming rights to various sections of the planned renovations at Pioneer Lodge.

Board member Amanda Dowling closed the evening by saying Heartland Hospice is optimistic that renovations will be fully completed in early 2024 — the

S O U T H O F

T H E B R I D G E

D A Y

Moose Jaw

Members of the Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw board (Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw/Facebook)

Maren Bradford, who died in 2022 at six years old, was the gala’s honouree - her mother Cathy was the keynote speaker (photo by Gordon Edgar)

Heartland Hospice capital campaign fundraising progress flower (photo by Gordon Edgar)

Jazz music was provided by the Carter Powley Trio- Carter Powley, Graham Purse, and Brent Jefferson (photo by Gordon Edgar)

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Para Hockey World Championship drops puck Sunday

When it was announced that the World Para Hockey Championship would be coming to Moose Jaw, a whirlwind of activity immediately went into motion.

With a world-class event coming to the Moose Jaw Events Centre in only a few months’ time, there was a ton of work to be done in a short period.

Now, everything has come together in impressive fashion.

“It’s incredible to think of the short time that we’ve had to bring it all together, but the players are here, they’re on the ice, they’re experiencing the great community of Moose Jaw,” said Moose Jaw Events Centre general manager Ryan McIvor. “All the comments we’ve had so far is that everyone is pleased and happy and I think

they’re just ecstatic to be able to play for a gold medal.”

That things came together across the board as well as they did is another sign of Moose Jaw’s ability to pull this kind of event off.

“It’s like anything, we were really focussing on some key attributes,” McIvor explained. “Accommodation, venue and transportation, and once all those pieces come together, now it’s just playing hockey. Not to diminish what it is, but it really is a big hockey tournament with an international flavour to it and that’s the focus we’ve had.

“But it’s taken an incredible effort from the volunteer local organizing committee, the staff at the Moose Jaw Events

Centre and everyone involved to get to where we are today, It’s been a herculean effort and it’s something everyone should be very proud of.”

A huge part of the whole thing is how the city stepped up to host the tournament at the last minute, bringing the Para Hockey World to Canada for the first time in the process.

“Sometimes it’s better to have a shorter time frame than a longer one, but this is something that’s going to be memorable,” McIvor said. “If it wasn’t for Hockey Canada and Moose Jaw, these athletes wouldn’t have the opportunity that they have, which is to come to Canada and play for a world championship.”

Now it’s just a matter of letting things

play out and seeing the stands fill up. To that end, there are still plenty of tickets available for early draws throughout the week, and things are filling up quickly for the evening draws, especially the game between Canada and the U.S. on Wednesday night.

“I think a lot of people will be surprised by the type of hockey, the pace of the game and the sport in general,” McIvor said. “Tickets are available, but sales have been great, and we’re really looking forward to that Canada - U. S. rivalry (on Wednesday night).”

Be sure to check out www.hockeycanada.ca for the full schedule and score updates, and for tickets, visit www.sasktix. ca.

Czechia defeats Korea to open Para Hockey World Championship

Pair of second period goals pace Czechia to 3-2 victory in as event begins at Moose Jaw Events Centre

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

For Team Czechia, there were some issues involving their luggage arriving in Moose Jaw after their international flight for the World Para Hockey Championship. Unfortunately, the team was only able to have one practice at the Moose Jaw Events Centre before taking on Korea in the tournament’s opening game on Sunday morning.

A total of six shots were allowed, no goals and a 3-0 shutout win kicked-off the hockey championship event in style.

“I think this result after the last two days and what we went through is super critical for us, stepping over these problems and focussing on our game and this was the result,” said Czechia head coach Jakub Novotny.

“We knew this game would be pretty hard because Korea is a tough opponent. We had a good season this year and we knew our guys had gotten better and were ready for this game and this moment… It’s a big victory for us in the preliminary round but we’ll see what happens next.”

After a scoreless first period, Patrik Sedlacek made history with the first World Para Hockey Championship goal scored on Canadian soil, with his marker coming on the power play at 9:52 of the second frame.

Just over a minute later, it was 2-0, as Vaclav Hecko picked up the puck in the high slot and put a shot top corner glove side.

Czechia then closed out scoring with 2:44 to play in the game, with Michal Gei-

er making it a 3-0 final.

Czechia goaltender Martin Kudela didn’t have a busy morning with his sixsave shutout, and given the result, that was just fine.

“I think the first game was great because we win, that’s good,” Kudela said. “As we expected it was a hard game, Korea didn’t make it easy. It’s very important for our spirit, it’ll boost up us all and it’s very important to us. The next game against the U.S.A. will be tough but we’ll do our best.”

For Korea’s part, the loss was tough to take, but one they’ll look to rebound from in their next outing.

“It was a very tough game, it was the first tournament game and we didn’t get enough shots and didn’t have enough speed, but we’ll prepare for the next game and the next step,” said Korea coach Kim Tae Ho.

Veteran goaltender Choi Hyuk Jun turned in a solid showing despite the loss with 32 saves, including a handful of big stops to keep things close.

He said through a translator that regardless of the number of goals, the team will be looking to perform better and they’ll be looking to get back to basics in their next outing.

Czechia’s Pavel Kubes battles Korea’s Jung Seung Hwan for the puck in front of Korea’s bench.

Team Czechia celebrate after Patrick Sedlacek scored the second goal of the game.

Czechia goaltender Martin Kudela managed to get a piece of this shot by Korea in the first minutes of the second period.

Korea goaltender Choi Hyuk Jun gets his glove on this shot out of traffic.

Czechia’s Michal Geier and Korea’s Kim Young Sung vie for the puck in the second period.

China overcomes slow start to take commanding win over Italy in Para Hockey Worlds

Five-goal third period leads to 10-1 victory for reigning Paralympic bronze medalists

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

A mere five years ago, China simply didn’t have a presence on the international scene in para hockey, as the sport had yet to attract enough attention to create a team in the country.

Once they did get going, their rise has been astronomical.

The defending Paralympic bronze medalists looked the part of a medal contender in every way on Sunday afternoon at the World Para Hockey Championship as they rolled to a 10-1 victory over Italy in the opening contest for both teams.

Things were close in the early going, though, and by the midway point of the second period China only held a 2-1 lead. Three goals through the remainder of the period would give China command of the game, and they kept the pressure on in the third for the commanding victory.

“This is the first time for China to play in Group A in para hockey, so this is a very good start for our team,” said Shen Yi Feng, who had five goals on the afternoon, including a third-period hat trick. “We’re going to try our best to play as well in subsequent games.”

Seeing Yi Feng put up that kind of offence wasn’t a surprise, as he’s considered one of the top players in the sport today, with his speed and skill making him lethal any time his line is on the ice,

Team Italy knew that dealing with the likes of Yi Feng and his teammates was going to be a tall order, but the way things were close early was promising,

“We know that to start against China is a really difficult start for the world championship,” said Italy coach Mirko Bianchi. “The players played good into the second period, but then China grows,

and we had some problems. Now we have to think about the next game, we have to play against Germany and Norway and keep the good things from this game and do our best in the end for the important games.”

That Italy can be competitive on the world scene is incredible -- their para hockey program has 14 players total, and that’s in the entire country. The skill is there, though, and they’ve risen through the ranks into the top pool of para hockey play.

“We know that we have a lot of difficulties in our country for developing the movement, so we know which games are important for us,” said Italy assistant cap-

tain Andrea Macri, who added that work is always continuing on developing and growing the sport.

“We didn’t play the third period as we could, but it’s like our coach said, it’s better to make mistakes with a good team. Now we have time to look at the mistakes and correct them.”

China coach Yin Jiwu wasn’t completely satisfied with how things went for his crew given how close things were early, but the result was naturally still a pos-

itive one.

“Our team had a pretty rough start, we weren’t doing our best right at the beginning because we haven’t been playing in the international game for a long time and just practicing at home,” he said. “So we didn’t do great at the beginning but it went a lot better as the game went on.”

Wang Zhi Dong scored twice for China, while Xu jin Qiang, Li Hong Guan and Zhang Zheng all had single markers. Tian Jin Tao picked up two assists.

Ji Yan Zhao stopped eight shots for the win, while Italy’s Gabriele Araudo stopped 11 shots in 24:44 of work and Santino Stillitano had eight saves the rest of the way.

Team China had no shortage of support thanks to the Moose Jaw Chinese Community Network, which saw hundreds of fans fill the seats behind the benches and penalty box areas.

Needless to say, the team couldn’t express their appreciation enough.

“We travelled from very far away to play this game, as a matter of fact, we traveled 15 hours to arrive here,” said coach Yin Jiwu. “But when we came here, we truly felt the hospitality, and especially from the Chinese people. It makes us feel that we are at home.”

High scoring forward Shen Yi Feng felt much the same way.

“It’s pretty encouraging to see so many Chinese out here to watch our game,” he said. “We travelled from pretty far away so it’s really cool to see so many Chinese people cheering for us. Their appearance is really encouraging for us to play well in our games.”

World Para Hockey Championship: Germany holds off Norway for crucial win

Norway rally in third period falls short as Germany takes 5-3 victory at Moose Jaw Events Centre Randy Palmer - Moose

Heading into the third period of Sunday night’s World Para Hockey Championship game between Germany and Norway, it looked as if things might have been all but decided.

Germany had scored a pair of goals in the second period to take a 3-1 lead and tacked on an insurance marker in the early moments of the third, looking to have essentially put the game away.

But Norway wouldn’t go quietly.

A pair of goals less than two minutes apart off the stick of forward Ola Oiseth suddenly made it a one-goal game, and the two teams would settle into a backand-forth battle the rest of the way before Germany would score an empty-netter and

take a 5-3 victory.

Bend but don’t break is just fine when you’re playing for a world title.

“Norway was maybe the better team, but we had passion and a very, very good goalkeeper,” said Germany defenceman Lucas Sklorz. “We deserved to win, we fought, we practiced and worked a lot to be here. Everybody thought Germany would lose every match, but we’re not here to be present, we want to do what we love. Today was a very huge step and we’re going to take the second step tomorrow.”

Sklorz touched on it, but if not for goaltender Simon Kuntz, odds are Norway would have had things in hand by the time the five-minute mark of the second period came around. Kuntz made a handful of tremendous saves throughout the first two

frames and finished with 19 stops total, more than one of them of the almost impossible variety.

“His family name is ‘Kuntz’, which means ‘art’ in Germany and I think that was perfectly art today,” Sklorz said. “It was an outstanding performance, huge, and thanks Simon, it was your victory today.”

Germany’s Bernhard Hering opened scoring 1:41 into the game before Norway’s Audun Bakke tied things up midway through the period. Jan Malte Brelage and Felix Schrader then scored in the second to give Germany their 3-1 lead, with Hering picking up his second of the game and fourth point early in the third.

Ingo Kuhli-Luaenstein scored an empty-netter in the final minute to wrap things up.

Oiseth ddn’t mince words when it came to describing the defeat, which will make it that much more difficult for Norway to reach the playoff round.

“It’s a devastating loss,” he said. “I think we gave away the game early on, which made us have to come back, which is always difficult, trying to come back from a three goal deficit. It was a good effort and we almost came back, but it wasn’t good enough. The guys will be

down for a little while now.”

The key now will be to build off what worked late in the game and put it to use in the tough games ahead, said Norway head coach Ken Babey.

“I’m proud of the guys for a valiant effort in the third period,” he said. “They could have just stopped and said ‘here, win the game 10-1’ but they fought hard and it just wasn’t good enough in the end. Now we have to refocus ourselves and get ready to play a really strong Chinese team tomorrow.”

That contest is set for 3 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, while Germany has the day off and will take on Italy in the 11 a.m. game on Tuesday.

The Moose Jaw Chinese community came out in force to support Team China in their first game of the Word Para Hockey Championship.

China’s Cui Tu Yao sends a pass out front of the Italy net.

China’s Song Xiao Dong lays a hit on Italy’s Alex Enderle.

Qiu Dian Peng of China just sent this scoring attempt wide of the Italy net.

Jaw Express

Germany celebrates after their win over Norway on Sunday night.

Players from Germany and Norway battle for the puck along the boards during third period action.

Norway’s Ola Oiseth celebrates with teammate Martin Hamre after scoring Norway’s third goal.

Miller Express win two of three to open Western Canadian Baseball League campaign

Moose Jaw falls 3-2 to Weyburn in season opener before taking 11-4 victory in home opener, riding near-perfect game from Merk to 7-1 win in Regina Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

It stands to reason that as a Regina native, Moose Jaw Miller Express pitcher Ethan Merk is plenty comfortable in the confines of Currie Field.

That familiarity undoubtedly played a part in how things went for the second-year veteran in Western Canadian Baseball League action on Sunday afternoon.

Merk would carry a perfect game into the eighth inning but would settle for a one-hitter in a 7-1 victory for the Miller Express.

The win closed out a decent opening weekend for the local squad, as they lost their season opener 3-2 to the Weyburn Beavers on Friday before rolling to an 11-6 victory over the Beavers on Saturday in their home opener at Ross Wells Park.

Moose Jaw’s 2-1 record has them tied for first with Swift Current in the WCBL’s East Division after opening weekend.

Moose Jaw 7, Regina 1

Red Sox hitter Dylan Edmonds hit a one-out, 2-2 offering into right field in the bottom of the eighth to break up Merk’s perfect game bid.

Merk would get out of things without allowing a run, with a single hit and a single error on his ledger. He’d finish with 100 pitches on the nose, 68 of them for strikes, and six strikeouts.

Millers newcomer Zach Sigmond pitched the ninth and allowed a single run on two hits.

Moose Jaw wasted little time getting things going offensively, as they put up a pair of runs in the first, extended the lead to 5-0 through two and 6-0 through three.

Cristian Yanez led the Miller Express offence with a 2-for-3 showing that included a double, run scored and run batted in. Luke Lachance was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI, while Dougie DelaCruz crossed

the plate twice.

Jonathan Henry got the start for Regina and look the loss, lasting a single inning and giving up five runs on three hits and two walks.

Moose Jaw 11, Weyburn 6

Wyatt Tweet had a stellar onfield debut for the Express, going 4-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored and two runs batted in to lead Moose Jaw to their comfortable win.

“That was a really big team game,” said Tweet, who took a 0-2 offering over the fence in right centre for a 2-0 lead in the second inning. “I got my opportunity and I was going to do what I can to produce for the team and I think everyone on this roster gets it and supports the next guy. Especially our pitching staff today, they were amazing and we just rolled through and got the job done.”

Matt Vasquez made his Millers debut on the mound and allowed a single run over three innings of work, surrendering a single hit, walking three and striking out four.

The Millers opened things up with three runs in the fifth, and when Weyburn’s pitchers ran into control issues, tacked on two more runs in the fifth and four in the seventh.

Once Vasquez left the game after the third, four relievers were able to keep Weyburn from putting together any major rallies.

Haldon Craig tossed the next three innings and held the Beavers scoreless while striking out three, Gabe Soto pitched the seventh and allowed three runs on three hits, Triston Seitz scattered two hits in a scoreless eighth and Myles Thomas closed things out, allowing two runs, one earned, while giving up a single hit.

Weyburn 3, Moose Jaw 2

Both Moose Jaw starter Kellan Vog-

gesser and Weyburn starter Owen McConnell got off to great starts, with the duo leaving the game with the Express holding a 2-1 lead.

Voggesser went four innings and allowed a single run on a pair of hits while striking out five and walking two, while McConnell went five and surrendered a pair of runs on three hits and struck out four with a pair of walks.

After Weyburn opened scoring in the second inning, Millers newcomer Thomas Soto scored Moose Jaw’s first run of the season. The Tyler Junior College infielder drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on an error and scored on a ground out by Parker Dorrance.

A pair of Express veterans connected to give Moose Jaw the lead in the fourth, as Luke Lachance brought home Austin Gurney to give the Express a 2-1 lead.

Drinkwater product Kaleb Waller took over from Voggesser in the fifth and struck out the side in his first appearance, but wouldn’t have as much luck in the bottom of the sixth when Weyburn scored a pair of runs to take the lead.

The Beavers’ bullpen would go to work from there.

Brett Patterson pitched three innings and limited the Express to a pair of hits and a walk, while Jacob Clark loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but escaped without any damage.

Jake King made his first appearance on the mound for the Millers in the eighth and went two innings, allowing a hit and striking out four.

Soto led the way offensively with a 2-for-4 night that included his run scored.

The Miller Express are back in action Thursday when they host the Swift Current 57’s. Game time is 7 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.

Canucks Red rally for come-from-behind win in 13U AAA baseball action

Moose Jaw scores four in bottom of seventh for first 14-13 victory and first win of Baseball Regina season; tie Weyburn 8-8 in opening game of doubleheader

The Moose Jaw Canucks Red are in the win column.

The Canucks scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 14-13 victory over the Weyburn Beavers in Baseball Regina U13 AAA action on Friday night at Lyle Helland Ball Diamond.

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Dax Chesney came through with the game-winning hit, hitting a double to centrefield that scored David Choe with the deciding run.

That wasn’t the only big hit in the final inning, either, as trailing 13-12, Nigel Legare laced a two-run home run to left

field to also bring home Isaiah Ross with the tying run.

It was a back-and-forth contest throughout, as the Canucks took a 5-2 lead out of the second inning, trailed 7-6 through four, led 9-7 through five and trailed 12-10 heading into the final inning.

Legare had an outstanding night on a whole at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and five runs batted in.

Dalton Stephens was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI, while Taeve Morhart crossed the plate twice. Daymond Baxter had a pair of hits and knocked in two, Choe also had a couple of RBI.

Chesney got the start on the mound and went four innings, allowing seven

runs on four hits and four walks while striking out seven. Baxter allowed five runs, two earned, on four hits over the next two innings and Legare closed things out, surrendering a run in the final frame and striking out the side.

The two teams also played earlier in the night, battling to an 8-8 tie.

It was another comeback, too, as Morhart doubled home Legare with the tying run in the bottom of the sixth.

Weyburn scored three in the first and led 5-4 through two, but Moose Jaw rallied to take a 7-3 lead through three. The Beavers scored single runs in the fifth and sixth to once again go ahead, setting up the late-game comeback.

Rylan Gray got the start and nearly went the distance, tossing 5 ⅔ innings and allowing eight runs, six earned, on 10 hits while striking out two and walking three. Stephens finished things off with a scoreless inning.

Legare was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Morhart, Chesney and Ian Kampus all knocked in a pair.

Moose Jaw is now 1-5-1 and hold down fifth place in the eight-team league.

The Canucks Red are back in action on Monday, June 5 when they travel to Regina to face the White Sox.

Canucks file

Moose Jaw hitter Chaz Poppy sends a double into left centre field.

Miller Express pitcher Ethan Merk came five outs away from a perfect game on Sunday in Regina.

Caribou Heights fastball diamonds renamed in honour of Eddy Moore

It’s hard to overstate just how much Eddy Moore meant to the sport of fastball in Moose Jaw.

Thousands of players learned to play the game under his tutelage, covering decades and decades of dedication that saw local athletes develop a love for the sport while becoming some of the top players in the province and beyond.

Now, his legacy will be secured forever.

The Moose Jaw Senior Ladies Fastball League held a special dedication ceremony to open their 2023 season on Tuesday night, with the Caribou Heights diamonds officially renamed to Eddy Moore Park.

That includes the main sign entering the park in addition to special plaques that will be installed on both diamonds explaining Moore’s importance and what he meant to the sport.

“When my predecessors rented the space from the city and built the diamonds, Eddy was a very influential person

in that he supported the ladies and what they needed to make sure we had a place of our own,” said league president Erin Tribier. “We recognized his contributions over the years, we even had the Eddy Moore Award we’d present for contributions to the league, and with his passing, we couldn’t think of a better honour to give him than requesting Caribou Heights be renamed in his name.”

The league approached the city with the idea last year, and once procedures were completed, word was received just prior to the start of this season that the renaming had been approved.

That led to Tuesday night, as the league held a special ceremony prior to the first game of the season between the Park Hotel Colts and the Heat.

as he could, and when Joelle decided to become a pitcher, he turned that aspect of the game into his focus.

“He looked up all the techniques to help her become a great pitcher and he got so good at it, he became the pitching expert in Moose Jaw and was running pitching clinics through the city program,” Tri-

bier said. “He taught all those generations how to pitch, just through supporting his daughter and getting into the sport.”

As a result, for the better part of the last 40 years, if you were an elite pitcher from Moose Jaw, odds were extremely high you’d come under Eddy’s tutelage at one point or another.

“There are ladies who are 60, 65 now who learned how to pitch from Eddy, then it went to my generation and younger generations for so, so many years,” Tribier said. “And Eddy continued to coach long past his daughter stopping playing, too. He was the head coach of Colts when I came into the league in 2000 and had been the coach of the team for years before then. He continued to want to be part of the sport and was always involved.”

Moore also spent many, many an hour working on the Caribou Heights diamonds, making sure they were in as good of shape as possible to not only act as a quality playing field, but also something Moose Jaw could be proud of.

On a whole, Eddy’s passion for the sport was infectious and led to many an individual helping take up the reins and keep the park in as good of shape as possible.

“You were worried about disappointing him, and he’d tell us ‘these diamonds are yours, ladies, make sure that they look and represent what you want out of the sport’,” Tribier said. “He reminded us of that and tried to make sure we felt passion for the sport and were proud of it. He made sure we had the best diamonds and the best opportunity to play the game as we could.”

Now, generations in the future will know of the man who helped make fastball what it is in Moose Jaw.

League president Erin Tribier and for-

president Caralie Wait with the new signs honouring Eddy Moore that will be placed at each diamond.

Moore first became involved in the sport back in the early 1980s when daughter Joelle started playing fastball. A neophyte at the time, Moore began researching and learning about the sport as much

“The next generation might not know who Eddy is personally, but they’ll know his reputation and love of the sport,” Tribier said. “We want to make sure they know that name and how important he was to all of us and the community,”

Ice split doubleheader with Regina Royals in U17 AA fastball action

Moose Jaw rolls 11-0 win in opener, fall 16-6 in rematch at Optimist Park

It was a bit of good and bad for the Moose Jaw 17U AA Ice in a doubleheader with the Regina Royals on Wednesday, May 25.

And when it was good, it was really good for the local squad in the two-game set at Optimist Park.

The Ice put up 11 runs in the first inning and would go on to an 11-0 win in the opening game before a couple of tough innings proved to be their undoing in a 16-6 loss in the rematch.

The first contest was decided in a hurry.

Moose Jaw sent 16 batters to the plate in the first inning, put up seven hits and took advantage of five walks and a Regina error to put up their double-digit frame.

RBI, while Abby Maczuga and Macy Litzenberger had two hits apiece.

Unser had few difficulties on the mound, holding Regina scoreless while scattering three hits and striking out three in the four-inning mercy-rule win.

Moose Jaw also got off to a good start in the rematch, taking a 5-3 lead out of the first inning, but a six-run third and five-run seventh would see the Royals take their commanding win.

Litzenberger was 2-for-3 with a run, while Mallory Tendler knocked in a pair of runs and Kadence Dansereau had a 2-for-3 showing.

Ava Unser led the way at the plate, hitting a triple in the first inning and going 2-for-3 with a run and three runs batted in.

Peyton Mengel was 1-for-1 with a pair of

Mengel got the start for Moose Jaw and was the victim of a few too many errors, giving up 11 runs in three innings work, with only four of those earned. Hai-

ly Molde pitched the next three innings and allowed four runs on five hits before Unser closed

the final

Eddy Moore Park to remember legacy of longtime Moose Jaw fastball supporter and coach Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

A closer look at the signs that will be installed at Eddy Moore Park.

Moose Jaw Senior Ladies Fastball

mer

The new sign at the former Caribou Heights Diamonds honours longtime Moose Jaw fastball supporter Eddy Moore.

things out, giving up

run and striking out the side.

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Moose Jaw’s Macy Litzenberger follows the path of her flare base hit into left field in the first inning of game one against the Regina Royals.

Ice hitter Ashley Breitkreuz gets off a base hit in the first inning of the opening game against the Regina Royals.

Record book takes beating as eight new records set in South Central district meet

Peacock’s Kapovic, Vanier’s Anderson head into provincials after setting records in both city and district meets

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Now that the high school track and field season has reached the biggest meet of the season, Peacock distance runner Nikolina Kapovic will look to just keep on keeping on.

Because if everything goes according to plan, she’ll most definitely be in the medal hunt at the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association championships during the June 4 weekend in Saskatoon.

Such is often the case when you’ve done nothing but set records in each major meet in the lead-up to provincials.

Kapovic was at it again in the South Central district meet, setting a new mark in the junior girls 3,000 metres on Tuesday after doing the same a week earlier in the city championship.

“I’m pretty happy, it’s been a good season and my times have been creeping down, so it’s been going pretty well,” Kapovic said shortly after finishing second in the 1,500 metres on Wednesday.

Kapvoic crossed the line in 10 minutes, 57.2 seconds in the district meet, taking seven seconds off the old mark set by former Central standout Kailey Smith back in 2003. Kapovic was also four seconds better than her city record set a week earlier, showing steady progression as the season continues.

Knocking off two-decade-old records has given Kapovic plenty of confidence

heading into provincials, where she’ll be among the top-level runners aiming to claim provincial gold.

“Right now I’m in the medal standings, so I’m going to try and aim for that and see what happens,” Kapovic said.

Central’s Katie Rogers had a record-setting day of her own, crossing the

Central’s Flanagan sweeps four events at high school District track and field championship

Cylcones competitor lone athlete to post four wins in provincial qualifying meet at Gutheridge Field

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

In the South Central district track and field district championship, Central Cyclones competitor Ellah Flanagan was the lone athlete in the event to pick up wins in all four of her events on the day, sweeping her way to the junior girls aggregate title with a perfect 40 points.

That included a time of 14.53 seconds to win the 80-metre hurdles and a 12.97-second effort to take spot in the 100 metres. The jumps went just as well, as Flanagan cleared 1.43 metres for gold in the high jump and then finished things off with 9.77-metre performance in the triple jump.

Cyclones teammate Katie Rogers was right behind Flanagan thanks to wins in the 400 metres, 800 metres and a record-setting 1,500 metres to go along with a second place in the 3,000 metres.

line in five minutes flat to break the junior girls 1,500 metres record of 5:03.20 set by Bonnie Seaborg in 1999. Rogers would have also set a new mark in the 3,000 metres if not for Kapovic, as she ran 11:04.60 to finish second.

Vanier’s Zayden Anderson ran a time of 14.42 seconds to break the intermedi-

ate boys 100m hurdles record set by Rylan Thiessen back in 2007. It was also the second record in as many meets for Anderson, after he ran 14.15 to break the 28-year-old mark in cities.

The senior boys shot put record was absolutely obliterated, with Central’s Paul Barth emerging from a three-competitor race to set the new mark of 12.49 metres, besting the old record of 11.00 metres set by Brendan Kemp in 2019. Briercrest Christian’s Leif Anderson was second with a 12.15-m effort and Vanier’s Wyatt Beihl third at 11.48 metres.

Mankota’s Olivia Brisebois found herself similar battle with Briercrest Christian Academy’s Jasmine Hundeby in the senior girls shot put. Brisebois would end up winning the competition and set a new mark of 9.59 metres, beating the old record of 9.21 set by Briercrest Christian’s Melissa Ellis in 2019. Hundeby also would have broken the record, finishing second with a 9.39m effort.

The senior girls 800 metres saw reigning two-time cross-country champion Jadyn Palaschuk from Central cross the line in 2:30.34, breaking Ryann Handley’s record of 2:37.02 set in 2019.

Assiniboia’s Quinton Fettes hit a new record in the senior boys long jump, crossing 5.98 metres to crack the old mark of 5.77 metres set by Henok Shiferaw in 2019.

Central’s Keaton Belsher takes to the air in the South Central district intermediate boys long jump. Belsher won three of his four events on Wednesday to claim the intermediate boys aggregate title.

Central’s Keaton Belsher found himself in a similar position on his way to taking top spot in the intermediate boys division.

Belsher won the 100 metres, long jump and triple jump to go along with a second place in the 200 metres. His 38 points were four better than second-place finisher and 100-m hurdles record-setter Zayden Anderson from Vanier, who also had wins

Cyclones junior boys competitor Javin Boynton was also a win away from a sweep, taking victories in the 100 metres, 200 metres and shot put before landing second in the long jump. Distance running specialist Kaeleb Tabin from Peacock was four points back thanks to wins in the 800 metres, 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres.

Central’s Emily Lin won the intermediate girls division with 30 points, while Jadyn Palaschuk had 30 points to win the senior girls division, including a record in the 800 metres.

Quinton Fettes won the senior boys class with 34 points, including a record in the senior boys long jump.

Action from the South Central district track and field championships.

Central’s Katie Rogers (left) and Jadyn Palaschuk each set records during the South Central District meet on Wednesday.

Golden Ticket wins 18U volleyball gold at national championships

GTVC post three straight wins in playoffs to take top spot in Tier 4 in Calgary

With the way things work at the Volleyball Canada youth national championships, all it takes is getting hot at the right time and a gold medal could be within your reach.

The Golden Ticket Volleyball Club offered a perfect example at the 18U national championship in Calgary held the weekend of May 21-22.

After posting 1-2 records in both their preliminary and power pool round robins, the GTVC got on a roll in the Tier 4 playoffs, reeling off three straight wins to claim top spot in the division.

It’s the second gold medal in as many weeks for the local club after their 14U girls took top spot in Tier 11 at nationals in Winnipeg last weekend.

Golden Ticket found themselves in a pair of close matches to open the tournament, taking a 31-29, 21-25,

Randy

Palmer -

Express

15-4 loss to B.C.’s ALPHA 18U to go along with a 2025, 25-20, 15-8 win over Alberta’s Storm VC. They also dropped a 25-16, 25-19 decision to Alberta’s White Eagles to finish 1-2 in their first round robin.

GTVC dropped another close match to open power pool play, falling 25-23, 23-25, 15-10 to B.C.’s Genesis Athletics Club, but rebounded to defeat Alberta’s HAVC 26-24, 25-19. A 25-15, 25-21 loss to Chargers Red from B.C. gave Golden Ticket their second 1-2 mark, sending them to the Tier 4 playoffs.

It was nothing but success from there, as GTVC took a 25-22, 25-21 win over the Makwa Rebels before getting a measure of revenge with a two-game sweep of Genesis Athletics in the semifinal.

That sent Golden Ticket into the Tier 4 gold medal

game, and they’d emerge victorious with a 2-1 victory over B.C.’s Apex Apocalypse.

You can check out all the national championship results from both the Golden Ticket Volleyball Club and the Thunder Creek Volleyball Club at www.iset.net.

Moose Jaw

The Golden Ticket Volleyball Club picked up gold in Tier 4 at the Volleyball Canada

over the

If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: jritchie@moosejawtoday. com

Moose Jaw Lawn Bowling Club invite everyone to CANADA BOWLS DAY. Drop in to the GREENS in Crescent Park (east side off 3rd Ave NE) on Saturday June 3 From 10-2 for FREE bowling. Regular Bowling times are Tues @9:30 am Mon thru Thurs @7pm - $ 5 drop in fee. First 2 visits FREE.

Moose Jaw Superannuated Teachers’ Luncheon UPCOMING EVENTS:

June 7/23 - 50th ANNIVERSARY Wine and Cheese Evening (no cost) from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM at the Masonic Hall. For STS members & partners MJ Branch, plus Prairie South and Holy Trinity Teachers Superannuating this school year are invited to join the celebration. Register with Rosalie by Wednesday, May 31/23 306691-0696 or email: marcilr@ sasktel.net. Back by popular demand - The HELL WITH THE BELL breakfast: Wednesday, September 6/23

Cornerstone Christian School Choir and Vocal Jazz Concert on Thursday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at Zion United Church, under the direction of Josh Carley. Everyone welcome.

The Moose Jaw Art Guild Art Exhibition “A Collection of Creativity” at the Cultural Centre is on until July 5. Opening Reception will be held on June 10, 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The public is invited. For information call 306-692-6667.

Living Springs Church Moose

Jaw Offering Griefshare

Meetings – 303 Coteau Street invites anyone interested to attend Griefshare groups. The meetings take place on Thursdays at 7:00 pm. GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. It hurts to lose someone. Find help at GriefShare. To register, go to www. giefshare.org or contact Isaac Nadarajah at isaac@livingsprings.life and attend as many meetings as you like. Briercrest Heritage Day, Saturday, June 10, 2023, 10:00 AM. Lots of events for a fun family day! Optional 50’s theme costumes. Show & Shine (cars, trucks, tractors, semi’s, etc.) contact Merv Gadd (306) 6317932. Parade at 2:00 PM. Slow Pitch Tournament contact Justin Hill (306) 513-7985. Beer Gardens, Concession on the grounds, Credit & Debit Available. Lots of museum happenings: Dusty Old Farmers, Blacksmith Larry Paysen, Cowboy Poetry Fred Cockburn, Pie & Ice Cream, museum tours, Bouncy Castles for the kids. Dry Camping available contact: Merv Gadd (306) 631-7932. Organized by Briercrest Museum, Community Centre, Rink & Firefighters.

Exclusive VIP Experience for Chamber Members through the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce, and

Upcoming Events in Moose Jaw

local chambers across Saskatchewan, have teamed up with the Saskatchewan Riders offering for just $99 you will get “skip the line” access to the Terrace Lounge with private bar, game day snacks, fan gear and a chance to network with other Chamber businesses. Get your green on and join us on July 15! Only 215 tickets will be sold. For tickets and information, email Allyson McDonald at Allyson.McDonald@ saskriders.com.

Nar-Anon Meetings every Monday 7—8pm (Moose Jaw Nar-Anon Family Group) is a twelve-step program for relatives and friends affected by someone else’s drug use and is in-person at Moose Jaw Alliance Church, 14 Neslia Place. Come in Main Doors – Meeting in Rm 103. You Are Not Alone! Your anonymity and what you say at meetings will be carefully guarded.

Toastmasters clubs utilize communication skill components to create the smorgasbord of benefits Toastmasters have potential to provide.

Big Country Toastmasters club meets on Wednesdays at 7pm.

Regular training opportunities have resumed with in-person @ saskpolytech in addition to virtual experience.

For more information text 306-690-8739 or email officers-3418@toastmastersclubs.

org

TAP Toastmasters (TAP) meet every Tuesday at 7 pm. Email cathymorrell@gmail.com

Church of Our Lady Bingo tales place at the Church of Our Lady Community Centre, 566 Vaughan Street on Tuesday evenings. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Bingo begins at 7:00 p.m.

TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss support group meets every Wednesday evening at the Alliance Church, 14 Neslia Place. (Corner of Thatcher Drive W. & 9th Ave.W.) Please enter through the west-facing door, turn right and go to end of the hallway by the library, to room 105. Weighin takes place from 6:30-7:00 pm. Meeting to follow. TOPS can help you reach your weight loss goal by providing you with tools, information and support to be successful. The group shares friendship, weight loss tips and offers encouragement to one another. New members are very welcome. Our scale weighs up to 500 lbs.

The Moose Jaw Stamp Club Meetings are the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 6:30pm at the Lindale School staff room, 1322 11th Ave. NW (north entrance). Call 306-693-5705 for information.

Moose Jaw Camera ClubInterested photographers are welcome and invited to join and Be Focused With Us! For more information: Wanda - 306-6937440 or Len - 306-693-7685. themoosejawcameraclub.com

Line Dancing every Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at St. Andrews Church. Call 306.692.7365 for more information.

Moose Jaw Public Library,

461 Langdon Cres. Phone 306.692.2787; visit their website at https://www.moosejawlibrary.ca/

Contact: Gwen Fisher or Aislinn Lawreniuk 306-692-2787. For more information visit https:// www.moosejawlibrary.ca/childrens-programs/books-%26bikes-bike-parade!

June 3 at 10:00 to 5:00 pmZine Workshop in Celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month

This workshop is open to participants ages 13 and up. Create your own zine and have it added to the Library collection if you wish. Learn about the history of zines including the use of zines in various historical (and present!) LGBTQ+ and other activist movements. The workshop is drop-in, come and go (you don’t need to stay the whole day) and will also provide some other fun activities such as button making and stamp carving. All supplies provided and of course, no cost to attend. Refreshments will be provided.

Contact: Shevaun Ruby 306692-2787

For more information visit: https://www.moosejawlibrary. ca/adult-programs/zine-workshop

Regular Programming for

May:

MJPL Overdrive users need to switch to the Libby app to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and e-magazines. It’s free, easy, and makes intuitive sense for current Overdrive users, so there’s no need to fear a brandnew learning curve — the transition should be smooth.

Adult Programming in May Tech Time by appointment only, call 306-692-2787 to book a personalized one-onone session with a tech wizard who can help clients learn how to use their devices and apps.

Youth Programming in May New Adult Digital D&D Every Friday, online, from 4 to 6 p.m., for ages 15 to 22. Register by emailing youth@ moosejawlibrary.ca.

Teen D&D Thursdays in the MJPL Archives, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., for ages 12 to 16. Register by email at youth@ moosejawlibrary.ca.

Family Movie Night –Treasure Planet (2002) Wednesday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. in the MJPL theatre, all ages welcome. A sci-fi retelling of the classic novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Jim Hawkins sets out to find the treasure trove of legendary pirate captain Flint aboard a masted ship sailing the spaces between the stars.

June listing of events coming next week!

The Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 59 Moose Jaw, 268 High St W Moose Jaw; Contact: 306-692-5453. Facebook @ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION-Branch 59 Moose Jaw. Instagram: @Royalcanadianlegion59. SHA restrictions in effect at all Legion events.

Bingo every Monday evening in the Lounge. Play starts at 6pm, Paper goes on sale at 5pm. Playing ten regular games

with 2 parts each and 3 extra games, all games are cash prizes. Please invite your friends for a fun night out.

Dart League every Thursday starting at 6pm. $25 to enter for the season. No membership required.

Cribbage every Tuesday at 1:30pm. Registration at 1pm. Cost $2 and please pre-register your team by calling 306.693.9688.

Drop-in Shuffleboard league every Friday at 7:00pm. Chase the Ace/Meat Draw every Saturday. To see the total check out Facebook page on Wednesday and Fridays for the upcoming Saturdays numbers. For current listing of events online visit: Monthly Calendar | Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59- Moose Jaw (royalcanadianlegionbranch59moosejaw.ca)

Moose Jaw and District Seniors: For more information Call: 306-694-4223 or Email: mjsenior@shaw.ca . The centre is now open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8am – 8pm.

Fitness Level & Indoor Walking Track open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Friday’s 8am4pm Wood working area – Monday to Friday 8 am – 4 pm

Timothy Eaton Cafe open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.

– 4 p.m. Cinnamon Buns are on Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie day. Kitchen is open Monday to Friday. Everyone is welcomed.

Billiards open daily from 8 a.m.

– 4 p.m. as well as Monday & Thursday evenings from 4:30 –

8 p.m.

Pickle Ball – Monday & Thursday mornings @ 10 a.m.

- Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons @ 1 p.m.

- Monday & Thursday evenings @ 7 p.m.

- Wednesday @ 6pm

Fitness- Chair/Low Impact Fit-

ness Mondays & Thursdays @ 1:00 p.m.

Cribbage – Wednesdays @ 1

p.m.

Hand & Foot Card Game for Beginners – Thursday @9:30 am.

Mah Jong – Wednesday @1 p.m.

500 Cards – Thursdays @ 1 p.m.

New – Full Body Work Out Monday at 9:30am and Wednesday at 9:30 am

Scrabble – Monday’s at 1pm

New – Spades Tuesday and Friday at 1pm

Line Dancing – Tuesdays @ 10 a.m.

Intro to Line Dancing – Wednesday’s @ 11am

Table Tennis – Monday Afternoon 1pm

Art & Crafts – Monday, Tuesdays & Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.

Floor Shuffleboard – Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 1 p.m.

Paper Tole – Tuesdays @ 1 p.m.

Nickle Bingo – Fridays @ 1 p.m.

Quilting – Every Friday 9am to 4pm

Lounge – Friday’s from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Jam and dancing (New Name Change) – Friday’s 9 a.m.

Texas Hold’em - Thursday @ 6:30pm

June 10th A Bugsy’s fundraiser Bacon cheeseburger with fries

and salad. $25 tickets at the front desk.

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. Weekly Activities for May

Monday: 9:30 Pickleball/1:00 Floor Shuffleboard/7:00 Camera Club – only on the 1st Monday of each month

Tuesday: 9:30 Jam Session/1:00 Pickleball/7:00 Friendship Bridge/7:00 Beginners Only – Pickleball

Wednesday: 8:30 TOPS/9:30 Pickleball/1:00 PONYTAIL Canasta/ 1:00 Floor Shuffleboard

Thursday: 10:00 Line

Dance/1:00 Pickleball

Friday: 10:00 Beginner Pickleball/1:00 Regular Pickleball BBQ Season Starts on MAY 25 from 5-6pm. Cost $15pp. Military Whist Tournament on MAY 26. Register @9:30 am/ Games @10:00am $20pp includes coffee/muffins/ lunch

Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or anaf252@sasktel.net

Thursday at 1:30 pm Crib

Friday at 1:30 is Fun Shuffleboard

Friday Evening Fun Pool and Darts at 7pm

Saturday At 4:30 pm is our Meat Draw, 50/50, Gift Card Everyone is welcome to join the fun!

Saturday meat draw @ 4:30pm - 50/50, Gift Card Everyone is welcome to join the fun! For More Information on anything Happening at the ANAVETS #252 Call or Text 306-6815998 or 306-692-4412 email anaf252@sasktel.net

Everyone Including Non- Members are Welcome to all our events!!

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.

June 3, 2023 – ROD WILLIER – DJ Music and Karaoke in the Eagles Club Lounge – 7:00 pm to 12:00 pm

June 10, 2023 – RUNAWAY TRAIN – playing 8:00 pm to closing in the Eagles Club Lounge

Jun 16 & 17, 2023 – BADLANDS COUNTY BAND - –Eagles Club Lounge 8:00 pm closing Western Development Museum; 50 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw. Please call for more information (306) 6935989.

You can read more about the upcoming sessions and how to sign up for the free Virtual Coffee Club talks at: https://wdm. ca/coffeeclub/

Canadian Space Agency grant to enhance reading

The Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL) Summer Reading Club will have more stars, galaxies, astronomy, planets, and other out-of-this-world learning opportunities this year thanks to a grant from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

The grant is intended to support and encourage education and awareness around Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields.

“We’re launching our Summer Reading Club for all ages — youth, children, and adults — on June 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. That’s our ‘launch’ party,” said Shevaun Ruby at the MJPL. “We applied for a grant last year from the Canadian Space Agency to foster interest and excitement around space and STEM fields, and luckily we got that, so we’re really excited.

“So, our theme for our summer reading program is around space: Space for reading, space for learning, space for you at the library.”

The launch party on the 17th will be in Crescent Park in front of the MJPL. There will be space-themed crafts and treats at

the party, face-painting, and bottle rockets, and the summer book selection will center on space knowledge and adventures.

Space, as Star Trek has taught us, is the ‘final frontier’ of human exploration, and the scientific fields involved have had long-reaching impacts on how human beings live. From Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) revolutionizing all forms of navigation, to weather forecasting and communication, from our understanding of time and distance to our knowledge of the origins of the universe, from the stunning achievement of traveling to the moon to possible futures on other planets or space stations, it is difficult not to find the topic interesting.

The MJPL is going to have spacethemed book clubs, playground programs, take ‘n make kits, young astronaut activities, and more this summer. There is also grant money going to enhance their MakerSpace area with better 3D printing and more robotics projects.

There might even be loanable telescope kits at the library sometime soon,

Ruby said.

“It’s all in the works,” she added. “The grant is quite long, it’s for a year, and we were only informed of it a couple of weeks ago, so we’re still early for lots of stuff. But the summer reading club party will be the launch of our public awareness around it.”

Can’t wait for June 17? Start exploring space now with some of the following online resources:

• Canadian Space Agency — www.asc-

csa.gc.ca

Learn about the CSA, the Northern Lights, the careers of Canadian astronauts, and the International Space Station

• ‘If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel’ — joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html

This side-scrolling website helps viewers understand a little bit of how big and empty the universe really is by illustrating our solar system to an accurate scale

• Space.com — www.space.com

A popular space and astronomy news site keeping readers up to date with everything going on with space exploration, cosmology, astrophysics, and more

• Sky & Telescope — skyandtelescope. org

This website is a good place to find accurate, reliable information about the night sky, from informative articles and guides to sky charts, interactive tools, observation tips, and mind-boggling photographs

Customers who suffered financial losses through business Fix Building Products can file claim

The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) is informing consumers that the bond issued to company Fix Building Products 2000 Ltd (DBA Fix Building Products) has been demanded and paid, while consumers who suffered a financial loss from a direct sales contract with this company may be eligible to file a claim for financial loss.

Fix Building Products was a direct seller based out of Regina that carried

on the business of direct selling by going from house to house selling or offering for sale, or soliciting orders for the future delivery of, goods or services; or by telephone offers for sale or solicits orders for the future delivery of goods or services.

Fix Building Products held a licence as a direct seller until Jan. 4, 2021.

A bond is a sum of money that a bonding company agrees to pay if the licensee — in this case Fix Building Products

— contravenes The Direct Sellers Act or breaches a direct sales contract. A bond is a licensing requirement for direct sellers in Saskatchewan.

To determine claim eligibility, consumers are required to provide a signed claim form and credible supporting documentation to substantiate their financial loss. Claims arising out of direct sales contracts will be reviewed. How the bond proceeds may be shared will depend on

the number of valid claims.

For more information, contact the Consumer Protection Division via email at branch.consumerprotection@gov.sk.ca or phone 306-787-5550. Claims must be submitted by June 07.

For information about the decision to demand the bond visit https://fcaa.gov. sk.ca/regulated-businesses-persons/businesses/directdoor-to-door-sellers/regulatory-actions.

Book of the universe illustration (HiddenCatch/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Fertilizer component 38. Got a good look at 40. Reflected sound 42. Assumed name 45. Arithmetic mean 48. Citrus 51. Specter 52. Embankment 53. Sporting venue

55. Cut into cubes

58. Nose

59. Windmill blade

60. Terminates

61. Glance

62. Evergreens

Sudoku

SUDOKU

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

5 2 2 9 8 6 1 4 7 9 4 6 9 1 8 2 2 4 8 7 1 9 4 8 2 6 3 7

© 2023 KrazyDad.com Daily Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad, May 24, 2023

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.

ANCHOR, AROMA, ASTRAY, CLOUD, DOSE, DRIFT, EMPTY, ENJOY, ENTHRALL, FAULT, FLOAT, FUGUE, GLUTTON HYDROFOIL, LARVA, LIGHT, LITTLE, MISERY MOTHER, MOVIES, MUSIC, MUTTON, NARY, NEEDY

REFLECTION, RUDE, SAUCE, SCOOT, SEXY, SOLAR SOLID, SOPRANO, SPILT, TASTY, TISSUE, WATCH

-- Michael Pollan --

Moose Jaw Truck Shop

AUTOS

$10.00, 2 small child lamps $10.00 for 2, 26” TV with remote works well $50.00, picnic cooler $10.00, coffee urn 30 cup $20.00. Call 36693-5003

For Sale- 20 ft. extension ladder $65.00.

Kenmore sewing machine in cabinet $40.00. 2 fans 17in $15.00 each. Collection of dolls from different countries, approx. 75 dolls $150.00. Call 306-6933129

$20.00, Honeywell portable humidifier $10.00, Propane deck heater $20.00, Glass top patio table 3.5 x 5 foot with 4 padded chairs $50.00, Patio table umbrella with stand $50.00, Wicker 4 drawer storage stand $20.00. Call 306-631-0084

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

wide by 11” deep. Asking $225.00. Call 306693-9304 or 306-6309304

LAWN & GARDEN

1993 Mazda standard stick shift, new tires, good running. $800.00. Knight left handed 7 golf clubs. New wheeled cart, $150.00. Phone 306-693-2743

MISCELLANEOUS

For Sale- computer & printer $100.00, desk 30” x 36” $50.00, Swival office chair $25.00, standing lamp & shade $20.00, white leaf table

Firearms, I am paying cash for guns in the Moose Jaw and surrounding area. Any condition, parts, Ammunition or anything pertaining to firearms. Free pickup of unwanted, gas operated lawn, garden, snow blowers, recreational, chainsaws, generators, boat engines, etc., as well as smaller farm equipment, Moose Jaw and surrounding area. Call or text 306-641-4447

Sunbeam Mixmaster

Panasonic cordless phones x 3 with answering machine. One phone needs new batteries. $50.00. Please call 306-630-8192

For Sale 9 varieties of Tomato Plants (can pot for extra charge), and Pumpkin Pie plants. All plants starting at $4.00. Call 306-526-0016 (do not leave voice message)

SPORTS

Clearance Sale- NASCAR 1-24 scale die cast replicas, also 1-24 scale funny cars & hockey figurines by MacFarlane. By Appointment Only call 306-631-7698

LOST & FOUND

REWARD for information leading to the recovery of stolen 45ft.

Degelman Land Roller. Taken last fall from a farm north of Moose Jaw. Call 306-631-9535

WANTED

Wanted Deer Antler

tor – 47 years in business, residential and commercial. Enjoys small or large projects involving plaster, drywall, concrete, painting, taping, texturing, stucco repair, tile and T bar. I work for the Heritage Society and enjoy beautification projects.

Quality work. Free estimates. Discount for seniors. Phone Bob Huston 1-587-889-1000.

Need work done? Con-

File

tact Bill at 306-6302268. Interior/exterior, renovations, formwork, framing, finishing, tiling, painting and all construction, roofing/ siding- no job too big or small. Reasonable rates, 30 years experience.

Moving jobs done reasonably: appliances, furniture, dump runs. Call to do it all. $45.00 a load. 306-630-2268

For Sale- Walnut China Cabinet with glass shelves. 47” tall x 23”

Sheds call 306- 6920800

SERVICES

Semi-Retired Contrac-

Tourism Moose Jaw Holds Annual General Meeting

Tourism Moose Jaw discusses highlights from

Tourism Moose Jaw is now seeing their seventh summer with Jacki L’Heureux at the helm. Speaking at the Tourism Moose Jaw Annual General Meeting on May 25th, she talks about a recap of 2022, what is to come in 2023, and speaks about some of the interesting challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022 was a record-breaking year for Tourism Moose Jaw, which shattered the previous record-holding year of 2019, and was interrupted only by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021.

For the financial situation, L’Heureux mentions that figures are almost entirely back to pre-pandemic levels as the organization continues to adjust to this unanticipated event.

Marta Woodrow, a Tourism board member covering finance, points out that the organization gained far less grant money than previously in 2021. Despite this, they have seen successes as merchandise sales are up almost $30,000, and trolley revenue is up almost $20,000. These increases reduce the organization’s dependency on grant funding.

“We by far made more just by being good salespeople...and didn’t have to rely on those grants, and yet we were more successful than 2021,” says Woodrow.

Trolley revenue in 2022 was up almost $20,000 from previously in 2021 and earned Tourism Moose Jaw just shy of $100,000 alone.

Although visitors from out of town were reported to be down by 14% from

2019, Sidewalk Days is just one example of a successful event. “Sidewalk Days made a very successful comeback [from the pandemic]... there were about 20,000 people who attended over the three days, so that was pretty great,” says L’Heureux.

Membership for Tourism Moose Jaw grew slightly in 2022 and is now hovering around the 200 mark.

“Our goal this year is to create a fun, positive, and drama-free team environment. We are accommodating in support of each other... our team actually came up with this themselves, this is their value statement for 2023,” L’Heureux explains.

“My personal goal for Tourism Moose Jaw is to continue growing the buzz we’ve created for Moose Jaw over the last 7 years.”

Tourism Moose Jaw is still aiming to replace the aged trolley that is currently in service.

“The federal government provided us with an extremely great grant to be able to bring in a new trolley, and then several months later that same federal government told us no, no, you can’t bring in a trolley from the States into Canada. We don’t make them in Canada, so it’s been a bit pf an epic journey,” L’Heureux explains re-

garding the trolley situation. “It’s been an interesting journey with it.”

“So what we were able to work out is we have a new (to us) much better condition, 25-year newer trolley that is currently being wrapped and should be on the road in the next 2-3 weeks. It is wheelchair accessible; it is heated; it is cooled... the seats are very comfortable... oh, and it has a shock system,” L’Heureux says as she refers to the rough roads in town.

As for upcoming events in the 2023 season, considerations are based on the organization’s strategic plan and available resources. “We decided we really need to keep the focus on the things that fall into our strategic plan,” says L’Heureux.

Sidewalk Days is scheduled to go ahead as per normal, and this Canada Day there will be a show in Crescent Park, with details to be announced later.

The meeting wrapped up by giving an honorary mention to staff and team members, ranging from their first year to their fifth year of service.

“And we created two brand new positions this year, a summer events coordinator and a sidewalk days festival coordinator,” says L’Heureux regarding their staffing situation.

Details including the programming schedule for this year’s Canada Day event in Crescent Park will be posted once bookings are confirmed and an official announcement is made by Tourism Moose Jaw.

Tourism Moose Jaw held their Annual General Meeting on May 25, 2023. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Obituaries / Memorials

KOBER, RUTH VIOLA

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Grandma, and GG, Ruth Viola Kober, on May 17, 2023 at the age of 90. Ruth was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, on August 24, 1932 to parents

Malcolm and Edith Brown. She married the love of her life, Edward Kober, who passed away September 30, 2015. They were married for 64 years and had three daughters. She clearly showed her love for all her family. Her three sons-in-law clamored to be her favourite. That speaks volumes about their mutual admiration.

Ruth worked many years in the lab at the Providence Hospital. In her off time, she enjoyed sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, baking, crafting, and making jams, pickles, bread, and buns with Eddy. She loved baking with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She often supplied her family, and their friends and coworkers, with some of their favourite treats.

Ruth was very easy going and was always easy to please. The caregivers at Pioneer Lodge, in the last two years, always had something good to say about mom. She participated in recreation at Pioneer, playing whack-adoodle, floor curling, carpet bowling, and bingo. She also loved baking and breakfast club.

The highlight of her days were the visits she had with family and friends. She had the biggest smile for us all. You could see her instantly light up.

Ruth was predeceased by her parents, Malcolm, and Edith Brown; siblings: Gordon Brown, Muriel Hallett, Walter Brown; husband, Edward Kober; and grandson, Ryan Hill. Ruth will be lovingly remembered by her daughters: Patricia (Randy) Mula, Cathy (Ollie) Hill, and Bonita (Greg) Myers; grandchildren: Jessica Bodnarchuk, Aaron (Michelle) Mula, Amy (Arden) Ausland, Nicholas (Allison) Myers, and Melissa (Ryan) Taylor; great-grandchildren: Jordan, Caelyn, Nash, Jaspen, Bentley, Dominic, Jett, Riley, Carter, Harley, and Levi; sisters: Elsie McNeilly, Mary Ritchie, Bonnie Gruell, and Heather McMillan; brothers: Colin Brown, Mic Brown, Jim Brown, Rodney Brown, and Ron Brown; as well as many sisters and brothers-inlaw, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of Pioneer Lodge and the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital for their excellent care and attention.

A Graveside Service will take place privately, in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s name may be made to the Salvation Army Church, 2 Wintergreen Dr, Moose Jaw, SK S6J 1M9. Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Cara Ashworth Intern Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome. com

Mom, we love you more, more, more, more, more….

TRUDEL, ANNA

Anna Trudel, aged 90 years of Moose Jaw, SK. passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at the Dr. F.H Wigmore Hospital with family by her side. Anna was born on a farm near Morse, SK. on May 7, 1933. She was predeceased by her mother, Margaret Gammel; husband, Lou Trudel; daughter, Carol McCreary; siblings: John Gammel, Jack Gammel and Ruth Hodges. Anna will be lovingly remembered by her sons, Laverne (Val) and Dwayne (Sheena). She will be dearly missed by her grandchildren: Jason (Emma) Michelle, Daniel, Aaron (Karina)Trudel as well as her seven great grandchildren: Silas, Crue, Archie, Tahlor, Taisley, Colton and Anna as well as extended family and friends. Anna worked alongside Lou in the service station in Morse for 12 years which they owned. Later Anna went on to work in grocery stores in Morse, Herbert and Swift Current until her retirement. In 2000 Anna and Lou moved to Moose Jaw, where she volunteered in the hospital gift shop. A Graveside Celebration for Anna will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Anna’s name may be made to the The Canadian Diabetes Assoc. 919B Albert St Regina, SK S4R 2P6. Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Calvin Gammel Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome. com

A Celebration of Life

Thomas C. Young

Cornerstone Christian School holding concert at Zion United on June 8

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Cornerstone Christian School (CCS) is holding their annual spring concert at Zion United Church on Thursday, June 8 at 7 p.m. to show off the repertoire the school’s choir and vocal jazz students have been working on since January.

“We have an annual Christmas concert and spring concert every year, and those are always very well received by the community and Cornerstone families,” said Josh Carley, CCS’ choir director, conductor, and accompanying pianist. “Our guests will be in for a very upbeat and inspirational concert. It’s a great way to commemorate the choir’s hard work throughout the year. There is no charge to attend, but donations to the music program are always appreciated.”

CCS is one of two associate schools in the Prairie South School Division (PSSD). It was established for faith-based reasons in 1993 and became an associate school in 1997. It enrolls students from kindergarten all the way through grade 12. As an associate school, CCS follows PSSD policies and procedures, including following provincial curriculum policy and programs, and employs only professional A-certified teachers who are full members of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF).

“So, the concert choir is Cornerstone’s Grade 7-12 main choir,” Carley said. “We rehearse three times a week at noon. There are 28 students currently in the choir.”

The choir has been rehearsing for the spring concert since January and has prepared a lineup from several different genres — gospel, rock, world, R&B, and classical. A graduating member of the choir, Krischan Voelk, plays cajon for the group.

“We also have the vocal jazz group which runs from January to June,” Carley added. “The vocal jazz students will be performing a variety of music including jazz, pop, ’80s rock, and gospel.”

Admission to the concert is free and all members of the community are welcome. There will be a donation basket available during the concert for anyone wanting to support the CCS music programs.

The CCS Concert Choir & Vocal Jazz Group will be performing at Zion United on June 8 at 7 p.m.

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.

Vindicate

The other day I accused Patti of putting something away but not in the correct place. I couldn’t find it at all. So, it must have been her. Then, it came to me that I had put it in a different place that would be easier to find, so I thought. She was vindicated. Now, I guess I must pay a penalty for a false accusation.

Vindicate comes from a form of the Latin verb vindicare, meaning “to set free, avenge, or lay claim to.” Vindicare is derived from the Latin noun vindex, meaning a claimant or avenger. From this Latin root come the words avenge, revenge, vengeance, vendetta, and vindictive.

Vindicate usually means to free from allegation or

blame. It may refer to things as well as persons that have been subjected to critical attack or imputation of guilt, weakness, or folly. And it implies a clearing affected by proving the unfairness of such criticism or blame. As I discovered, but not necessarily quick to admit, it was my fault the thing was missing, and not Patti’s blunder.

Vindicate can also mean to provide justification or defence for someone. Psalm 26 says, “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.” (Psalm 26:1) Since the writer has believed without hesitation and walked in honesty, God should defend him and support him against any opposition.

The prophet wrote, “He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.” (Isaiah 50:8) The Lord will defend His people, to protect them from attack or encroachment. God will avenge His own.

In the 16th century vindicate was used in the sense of freeing or delivering from a place or a peril. A damsel in distress would be vindicated by the valiant knight. She would be freed from her prison or captor. To use the word vindicate as “to obtain freedom” has become obsolete in English. Now the word implies some sort of justice being provided with the freedom given or received.

When someone is vindicated from a charge, they are absolved, exonerated, acquitted, or exculpated. Exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault, often in small matters. She is exculpating herself from the charge of overenthusiasm. Acquit entails a formal decision for freedom with respect to a charge. The jury voted to acquit the defendant. Exonerate involves a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any suspicion of blame or guilt. The politician was exonerated by the investigation.

Absolve implies a release from an obligation that binds the conscience or release from the consequences of disobeying the law or committing a sin. The priest absolved the penitent person.

Vindicate can also mean to uphold a true, right, or just cause. It is like maintain, assert, defend, or justify, with slight variations depending on context. Maintain stresses firmness of conviction. He steadfastly maintained his innocence despite overwhelming evidence. A determination to make others accept one’s claim is to assert. She asserted her rights. Defend implies rightness in the face of attack or criticism. The member of parliament defended her voting record in the face of criticism. Justify entails showing to be right by appeal to a standard or to a precedent. The abuse was used to justify police intervention. Whereas vindicate indicates successfully upholding the right. His success vindicated our faith in him.

Patti was vindicated from my accusations since she did not misplace the object I was seeking, as I seemed to have been the last to use it. However, I feel I should be vindicated because of the rusting steel trap of my mind, deteriorating due to no fault of my own.

Columnist John Kreutzwieser loves to research words and writes this weekly Word Wisdom column for Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com. He has an interest in the usage, origin, and relevance of words for society today. Greek and Latin form the basis of many words, with ancient Hebrew shedding light on word usage.

John would like to know if anyone has a sincere interest in a relevant word that he could possibly research for an upcoming column. If so, please send your requests to wordwisdom2021@gmail.com . Words will be selected according to relevance and research criteria. We cannot confirm that all words will be used.

The Moose Jaw Art Guild hosts “Collection of Creativity” exhibit at the Cultural Centre

The Moose Jaw Art Guild is hosting an exhibition focused on fostering creativity, named the “Collection of Creativity,” at the Cultural Centre between May 24 and June 5

If you are looking for something to do downtown, and would like to engage your creativity, then stop by the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre between now and June 5th and check out the Moose Jaw Art Guild’s latest visual art display.

The current display, “Collection of Creativity,” features 15 local artists and 20 pieces of art. These works range from acrylic paint to weaving and highlight local talent and creative expression.

“The theme of the exhibition, ‘Collection of Creativity,’ was chosen by our membership at a guild business meeting. We designed it to be open-ended to better express our current diversity of interests,” explains Patrick Hall, Vice President of the Moose Jaw Art Guild. “In the past, we have had specific themes such as the ‘Sunflower’ exhibition in support of the Ukrainian people.”

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / Moose Jaw Today.com

this, one can gain the inspiration needed to express yourself and visual art is an ideal medium for this expression.

“Visual Art is part of the way we communicate. In mankind’s early history there were also magical beliefs associated with painting prey on cave walls,” explains Hall.

“Bison Valley Near Banff” by Grace Popyuk. Acrylic on canvas. Not for sale. “We have visited the mountains in Alberta nearly every year for a vacation. Now bison are being introduced to build herds back up for future generations. I find this totally inspiring for my art and for the future of bison herds in Canada.” Photo by: Aaron Walker

As the theme of the exhibit implies, one of the key features of visual art is to foster creativity.

Creativity can be nurtured through one’s subjective interpretation of a work, finding hidden meanings and symbolism, and can help open your mind to new ways of thinking and seeing the world.

“Visual Art can teach us how to see and observe,” says Hall. “For example, we use linear perspective to portray distance like railway tracks converging in the distance. As well, there is atmospheric perspective that lightens and simplifies objects in the distance. Objects closer to us are warmer, deeper in colour and detail.”

Artists are encouraged to communicate through any visual art form that “captures your interest and fires your artistic expression,” as their website states. “Our common bond is an appreciation of art and a desire to express ourselves through the creation of original art.”

The Women’s Art Association of Saskatchewan was originally founded in 1928 as a community organization for women. In 1949, ten Moose Jaw women from this group moved to establish the Moose Jaw Fine Art Guild, and it changed its name to the current Moose Jaw Art Guild in 1984. Today the guild is open to anyone who has

“Naturally Blue” by Roxanne Chesney. Acrylic with drywall compound for texture. Price: $250. “This artwork is about using an unnatural color in a natural setting. Are there blue trees in nature? Maybe. It’s exciting to paint outside the box!”

an interest in and appreciation for art.

The Moose Jaw Art Guild holds exhibitions, art classes, workshops, and is involved in the wider community through painting murals and high school bursaries.

“We award a bursary to one grade nine student in every City [of Moose Jaw] high school,” Hall explains.

If any of these works stand out to you and offer personal inspiration, select pieces are available to purchase by contacting the Moose Jaw Art Guild.

If you would like more information or to join the Moose Jaw Art Guild, they can be reached through their website at https:// mjartguild.wixsite.com/moosejaw, or by email at mjartguild@hotmail.com. Patrick Hall can be reached at patrick.hall@sasktel.com.

“Hoi An” by Tim Greig. Acrylic on canvas. Price: $750. “As a new citizen of Moose Jaw and new member of the Art Guild, I look forward to engaging with the art community here.” “The photo reference for my painting ‘Hoi An’ was shared by my daughter, Taryn, who travelled extensively in Southeast Asia in her year between university and full-time employment. Known for its architecture, Hoi An was a prominent trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries.”

Photo by: Aaron Walker

Artistic expression is known to help alleviate depression, anxiety, and stress. This is due to the way one’s creative faculties are engaged, and they can draw on positivity to find creative solutions and self-expression.

“When we look at the visual art of today, it can give us a happy feeling because of the colours and shapes of a lake, a sunset, or an abstract idea. Harmony makes us feel good. On the other hand, we can be jolted. Visual themes can create empathy in us, move us to act to make a better world.”

Everybody can benefit from art, even those who are not well versed in it. By immersing yourself in an art display such as

“Presence of Life” by Sara Robinchaud. Acrylic on canvas. Price: $125. “Sara Robichaud (SaRobi) was born in the interior mountains of British Columbia and lived on the west coast before moving to Moose Jaw. Her work expresses her deep connection and love for the natural world.” “Her paintings celebrate the beauty she sees everywhere and record her personal experiences.”

The mission of the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre involves them providing a destination for artists and allowing patrons to enjoy the “greatest possible variety of experiences,” according to their website.

For more information on the exhibit, the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre can be reached at 306-693-4700.

Be sure to attend the Artist’s Reception taking place on June 10, 2023, at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre located at 217 Main Street North. All members of the public are invited to attend and get to know the artists behind these works.

This exhibit is showing at the Cultural Centre between May 24th and June 5th, 2023. Admission is free and all members of the public are welcome to attend.

Photo by: Aaron Walker

Photo by: Aaron Walker

Friday

Thursday

Rewind Dangerous Urban Rescue

55 CRV1 (:55) < Light of My Life ('19) Casey Affleck. Expecting "Conception" Clone High Clone High

56 CRV2 <+++ Minari ('20) Han Ye-ri , Steven Yeun. Just Like (:50) And Just Like That... (:35) Just Like

57 CRV3 (:20) The Office (:45) The Office (:10) Law "Deep Vote" Billions "Chickentown" The First Lady "Rift"

58 HBO < Tina ('21) White "True Believers" <

TCM (6:00) <+++ High Sierra <+++ White Heat ('49) Virginia Mayo, James Cagney <+++ The Women ('39)

47 AMC (5:15) <+++ The Green Mile ('99) Tom Hanks. (:15) <++ Young Guns ('88) Emilio Estevez.

48 FSR (5:00) Motorcycle Racing Inside X Dangerous Heavy Haulers

55 CRV1 (6:00) <+++ The Batman ('22) Robert Pattinson. Dark Side (:50) Dark Side-Ring (N) (:40) Little Bir

56 CRV2 (6:05) <++ Marry Me ('22) < Jane by Charlotte ('21) (:35) <+++ Candyman ('21)

CRV3 (:20) The Office (:10) Law "Armed Forces" Billions "A Proper Sendoff" Gossip Girl

HBO (6:20) < Fireheart ('22) (:55) The Weight of Gold I May (:35)

Alice Faye. <+++ The Importance of Being Earnest

47 AMC <+++ The Matrix Reloaded ('03) Laurence Fishburne, Keanu Reeves Fear the Walking "Odessa"

48 FSR Dirt Switched on Kill Dirt Slide or Die Dirt Running the Wall Dangerous Drives

55 CRV1 (:05) <++ Sing 2 ('21) < Door Mouse ('22) Donal Logue (P) Movie

56 CRV2 (:10) < This Is the Night ('21) Madelyn Cline. RuPaul Drag Race (N) (:10) <+++ Barbarian ('22)

57 CRV3 (:20) The Office (:45) The Office (:10) Law & Order Billions "Overton Window" The First "Victory Dance"

58 HBO (:05) Pelosi in the House Sarah Silverman: We White House Plumbers

SATURDAY EVENING MOVIES SPORTS SPECIALS 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30 10 PM 10:30

3 CBKFT Les enfants de la télé Pour "Charles Tiseyrre" (N) Dans les eaux (N) TJSask/ Le TJ (:35)

(6:00) < Singin' in the Rain <++++ A Star Is Born ('54) James Mason,Jack Carson, Judy Gar land.

47 AMC (6:00) <++ U.S. Marshals ('98) Tommy Lee Jones. <+++ The Perfect Storm George Clooney 48 FSR (6:00) NASCAR Toyota 200 Dirt Running the Wall Dirt The Comeback Kid Dangerous Border Patrol

55 CRV1 (:20) <+++ Happy Together ('97) Leslie Cheun g <++ Magic Mike's Last Dance ('23) Channing Tatum.

56 CRV2 (5:35) < Fantastic Beasts: < Kimi ('22) Byron Bowers, Zoë Kravitz. (:35) <++ The Matrix Resurrections ('21)

57 CRV3 (:20) The Office "Fun Run" (:10) Law & Order Billions Gossip Girl

58 HBO (6:30) Stolen Daughters (:55) < Saudi Women's Dr Burden of Proof (N) (P) Burden of Proof (N)

WEDNESDAY EVENING MOVIES SPORTS SPECIALS

7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30

Record attendance welcomes first car show of the season

The Next Gen Car Club held their annual season opener car show at Tatawaw Park in Moose Jaw

The roaring sound of revving engines and deep bass filled the air in Tatawaw Park on Sunday afternoon, May 21st, as the Next Gen Car Club season opener saw their biggest turnout so far.

After the club organized a sunset cruise the night before, the show saw decent weather and large crowds for the main event.

Car enthusiasts may have had some trouble getting to and from the park, but that is only due to the record number of participants and guests at the event. Staff were on hand to cope with greater crowds than anticipated, and food vendors provided refreshments.

The event featured a vehicle registration from 12-1 pm, and then a car show with competitions between 1-5 pm on Sunday. The demonstration portion included a bass and an exhaust competition, and static displays were held throughout the park all afternoon.

The Next Gen Car Club is a Saskatchewan-based car club with over 3300 members. They organize community and social events, along with scheduled meetings for car enthusiasts.

One example of their outreach is a call to donate to the food bank. Event planners asked all members and guests to bring a non-perishable food item, to be picked up by the Moose Jaw Food Bank who were on scene to accept donations. In the 2022 season, Jai Singh, one of the club’s administrators, presented a check for over $1000

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

To enter your show car for next year’s season opener, or to attend any of their other events throughout the year, you can register with the Next Gen Car Club by visiting their Facebook page and sending a direct message.

to the Moose Jaw Food Bank.

Next Gen Car Club merchandise is available by messaging the group on their Facebook page or can be purchased at Tristan’s Treats in Moose Jaw.

The club routinely announces new and upcoming events on their Facebook page.

The 2023 Next Gen Car Club season opener drew record crowds this weekend in Tatawaw Park

Restored and extremely rare 1937 Chevrolet Master from Regina featuring low ground clearance

1932 Ford owned by Mason Nicholson from Assiniboia

1956 Belair owned by Bradyn Kast from Assiniboia

1967 Fiber Jet Beachcomber owned by Darren Chow from Moose Jaw. This is one of the best examples of only a handful of Beachcomber body styles remaining in North America and still has the original hard top

1970 Chevelle owned by George & Dianne Chow from Moose Jaw. The car was restored by Ray Miller, and features a 396/402 4bbl dual exhaust engine

George & Dianne Chow’s restored interior in their 1970 Chevelle

Willy Winmar birthday party draws huge crowd to Crescent Park

Hundreds of visitors take part in Willy’s second birthday celebration with plenty of festivities

Willy Winmar had so much fun at his first birthday party in Crescent Park last spring that it only made sense to do it all over again this year.

Sure enough, the big blue bear was once again at Crescent Park last Saturday as hundreds of party-goers gathered at the park’s amphitheatre for an afternoon of fun, games and music for his second birthday.

And what a party it was, as patrons were treated to cupcakes; kids ran around giant bouncy castles and played games like connect four and cornhole, as people of all ages took in performances by musicians and magicians. It was just an all around fun time on a warm day in late spring.

“It’s been a great turnout and it looks like everyone is having a really good time,” said Pete Iatridis, business development and marketing manager for Winmar. “We like to give back to the community; they support us so we want to support them, and we’re happy to be able to tie it in with Moose Jaw mental health and raise awareness and funds for them as well.”

The charitable component is a significant part of Willy’s celebration, with all food trucks taking part in the event donating a portion of their proceeds to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation. The MJHF will in- turn see to it that funds get to the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s mental health division, with Winmar also matching those donations dollar-for-dollar.

Members of the SHA were on hand to answer questions and offer information, with their button-making station also

proving to be plenty popular throughout the day.

While a government organization, the SHA receives additional funds from groups like the Health Foundation to help with unique projects.

“Most recently we held an empowerment camp for women that went really well, and it’s all due to the support of the Foundation helping us think outside of the box and offer some things we wouldn’t otherwise do,” said Michael Seiferling, director of mental health and additions with the SHA.

“We have two goals in coming to

events like this: raise awareness and reduce stigma, and it also doesn’t hurt that proceeds are going to us being able to think of other things we can do to provide tools and support to empower people in the community.”

Winmar is a disaster restoration company that began operating in Moose Jaw and Regina in 2010. Business has boomed since, with Winmar now offering services in Estevan, Yorkton, Brandon and Winnipeg.

Given the success of the birthday party and the exposure it gives to the company, Iatridis believes it has now become an annual event.

“We want to keep it going for sure,” Iatridis said. “Hopefully we can keep adding things and making it better and hopefully the weather [will continue to be] on our side.”

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Willy Winmar signs a cast for a young visitor.

Kids check out the magic show by Sitruc James.

Ray Rawlyk leads the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to Willy Winmar.

Magician and illusionist Sitruc James had youngsters enthralled with his show.

A youngster plays the giant game of Connect Four.

A youngster has a fancy rainbow painted on her face.

A Winmar volunteer hands out cupcakes to a youngster.

Card- and sleight-of-hand tricks wowed visitors throughout the day.

The balloon animal station was a popular one throughout the day.

Willy Winmar was naturally a popular guy at his second birthday party.