The Biggar Independent Volume #115 Issue #16

Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Biggar School of Dance hosted their home competition, April 13-14 at the Majestic Theatre, bringing in dancers from the various spots in the province. The two-day event was a busy and entertaining time as dancers showed off the lessons learned over a year of hard work and artistry.

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

Final show of the Arts Council season this Wednesday

It has been an exciting year for the Biggar and District Art Council and this Wednesday, April 20, the final show will feature musician and performer with the soul of an oldtime showman, Jack Garton.

Enchanting audiences in British Columbia for many years as a musician and theatre artist, Jack Garton’s show is a rocking, sultry and fresh blend of folk and roots, steeped heavily in the rockabilly and doo-wop that were his first musical loves.

Garton has performed solo and with many beloved bands and theatre companies throughout North America and Europe, featuring soon in the Firehall Arts Centre’s production of Chelsea Hotel: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen (February 2024).

A frequent collaborator over 16 years, Garton has toured and recorded with many Western Canadian roots bands, including Petunia and the Vipers, Blue Moon Marquee, Maria In The Shower, and The Burying Ground, playing his unique combination of trumpet and accordion. Since 2013, he has also been busy as a solo artist, releasing two critically acclaimed albums (Move The Mess Around, 2016 and Love You Over Time, 2018) and playing up to 90 shows a year at festivals, theatres, clubs and cookouts with his own backing band.

Having learned the craft of songwriting in longterm mentorships with folk legends Dan Bern and Geoff Berner, Garton is forging his own songwriting style that has delighted fans and critics

alike. Described as “infectious songs that each stand alone as riveting short stories set to music” (BC Musician) and “the perfect soundtrack for a generation just trying to walk in a straight line” (Maddy Cristall, Citrus Magazine), his third commercial release, Original Skin, is sure to bring even more listeners to Jack’s world of catchy, funny and poetic roots songs.

Jack Garton winds up the 2023/24 Biggar and District Arts Council concert season at the Majestic Theatre, Wednesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale from Ross Holt at de Moissac Jewellers or from ticketpro.ca

Water Security Agency issues updated runoff forecast

The Water Security Agency (WSA) issued an update, April 12, to the Spring Runoff Forecast for 2024.

Above freezing temperatures throughout the middle of March resulted in snowmelt runoff either beginning, or in some instances being complete, over much of southern Saskatchewan.

While many areas of the province’s moisture levels remain below normal or well-below normal in many areas of the province, late season snowfalls at the end of March have improved conditions.

Out of the 45 water supply reservoirs across the province, 33 are currently at or are expected to be at or near full supply when the runoff is com-

plete. Six reservoirs are expected to be in the 70 to 90 per cent full range. Only six are expected to remain low (Harris, Junction, McDougald, Downie Highfield and Roughbark reservoirs).

In mid-March, a snowstorm brought significant precipitation to a good portion of southern Alberta and to southwestern Saskatchewan. Much of this area across both provinces was snow free prior to this storm. This snowfall event improved the expected additional runoff volumes to some degree across Southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. How quickly the snow melts will impact how much additional runoff will be experienced in these basins. With the area

being so dry prior to the snowfall event, if a slow melt occurs, a lot of the water will infiltrate into the soil.

Another snowstorm in late March brought five to 15 centimetres of snow across most of eastern Saskatchewan, with the heavier snow falling in the northeastern portions of the grain belt.

The river is still icecovered in North Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan River System. Flows are slightly above the median for this time of year. With most snowpack melted in the prairie and foothills of the basin, flows are not expected to pick up until the mountain runoff occurs.

A decent snowpack still exists in the Assiniboine Basin. In this area,

ice layers were present during the snow surveys done at the end of February, and with the additional snow received over the past month, a near normal runoff is still expected.

The current snowpack accumulation in the Rockies currently varies significantly from wellbelow to near normal. The amount of runoff that we see from the mountains this year will depend on the timing of the melt event as well as May and June rains. These rains can quickly change the conditions in the basin. The high flow events that we often see during this these months are a result of the rainfall events. Based on the current snowpack in the mountains and the low water

supply levels in Alberta, there is a higher probability that the inflows into Lake Diefenbaker this spring and summer will be below normal.

With the conservative winter plan implemented, the water level at Lake Diefenbaker was at 552.39 metres (m) on April 1, which is above normal for this time of year. Normal April 1 elevations are around 551.56 m.

RCMP Report

by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment

This past week, 36 calls for service were received by the Biggar Detachment.

Eight warnings and five tickets were issued to drivers in the area. Multiple calls were received for about 20 small pigs that had met their end on Highway 14 west. It is unclear exactly where from, how and when the pigs came to be on the highway. The Department of Highways was notified of the required cleanup.

Report of a 23-year-old driving around town with only a learner’s licence and a Gas N’ Dash by a Saskatoon resident that had a momentary lapse of memory at the pumpthey were tracked down, apologized and have since cleared up their tab.

Members completed a welfare check on an

80-year-old in Baljennie after concerns were expressed by neighbours in the area. Disturbing the Peace was reported after a mother and daughter were heard yelling and screaming their profound affection for each other out front of a residence. Report of mischief to a home that was vandalized with graffiti after a suspect wrote “Meth Head” in orange paint on the brick. Member’s attended an Alarm call for a break in, turned out to be just the wind that had blown the door open.

A 30-year-old was arrested for intentionally breaking a window of their nemesis on camera and will appear in court May 1 for charges of Mischief. Also appearing, will be another 30-yearold arrested on Domestic Assault charges.

Take Care out there!

Bingo Numbers for APRIL 18

Jack of All Trades - Master of It All, Jack Garton brings his show to the Majestic Theatre, Wednesday, April 24 for the final show of the Biggar and District Arts Council concert season. (Submitted Photo)

Blade Boosters ... St. Gabriel School students lined the fence to Highway 14, waiting for the Saskatoon Blades bus to pass by, lending their support to the WHL team as they headed to Red Deer for their next round of playoffs. Seeing the support, the team stopped meeting and greeting the Biggar kids, Coach Brennan Sonne (inset photo) high-fiving their Biggar fans, Monday. (Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

The case for a carbon tax in Canada is crumbling

by Sylvain Charlebois, Dalhousie University

Over 340 economists have penned an open letter in support of Canada’s prevailing carbon tax policy.

Despite the misleading information in the letter regarding the carbon tax’s impact on our climate and its effect on our cost of livingexplicitly referencing the Bank of Canada’s erroneous calculationsthe group certainly has the right to express its viewpoint.

However, the letter seemed overtly partisan, which, frankly, is its most significant challenge.

Canada stands at a pivotal crossroads concerning its climate change strategy, especially regarding its essential agri-food sector. The debate over using a carbon tax as the main instrument for reducing greenhouse gas emissions has been fervent, with advocates urging national standards to prevent a competitive ‘race to the bottom’ among provinces. This stance, particularly when applied to the agri-food industry, is laden with risks and oversimplifications.

What are they?

The geographic blindness of climate change

Climate change remains indifferent to geopolitical lines. If the business climate in Canada worsens due to

rigid carbon tax policies, it might prompt agri-food enterprises to move to more economically accommodating regions outside Canada.

Such a migration would represent both an economic setback and a strategic error in the broader battle against climate change.

The quest for empirical justification

While carbon tax advocates profess a willingness to consider alternative policies - if supported by empirical evidence - Canada’s delay in furnishing a thorough mathematical rationale for the current carbon tax policy is causing public impatience. There’s a growing demand for a definitive, measurable basis that proves the policy’s efficiency in curbing emissions without stunting economic growth.

Agri-food’s proactive stance on climate change

Acknowledging the considerable efforts of the agri-food industry in diminishing its carbon footprint is crucial. With Canada’s abundant natural resources, the nation is in an excellent position to spearhead the creation of a global carbon market mechanism. Such an initiative would both address climate change and protect the agrifood sector’s economic health.

view with the Regina Leader-Post early last week.

Her comments came after Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill suggested the government may be willing to move on a key point.

Cockrill told to reporters at the legislature last week he government was now prepared to put forward a memorandum of understanding (MOU) related to a proposed accountability framework for education funding and would even be willing to write into legislation.

The Nordhaus perspective

The carbon tax policy’s proponents frequently reference Nobel Laureate economist William Nordhaus. He argued that the choice between a carbon tax and other models like cap-and-trade (CAT) should be based on practical considerations, including administrative efficiency, market conditions and political acceptability. Although Nordhaus has emphasized the carbon tax, he has also acknowledged CAT’s potential as an effective emissions reduction tool. Also, his advocacy for a global climate change mitigation approach serves as a vital reminder that our efforts should extend beyond national borders.

The weakening case for carbon tax in Canada

The argument favouring a carbon tax in Canada is losing strength. The combination of carbon tax and populist carbon rebates has shifted the policy towards wealth redistribution, straying from its environmental goals. This situation raises serious questions about the future effectiveness and direction of Canada’s environmental policy.

Many Canadians are skeptical about adopting mechanisms to reduce emissions, and their voices also deserve

There are also other reasons for optimist, given the nature of labour disputes.

Workers can’t hold over forever. Management can’t do without workers forever. And specific to this government-public sector strike, there is added elements.

Most of the STF job actions haven’t involved full-scale strike walkouts for good reason. If your entire bargaining unit walks off the job, that’s really costly to union strike funds that can only be maintained for so long.

attention. Nonetheless, the global shift towards a more decarbonized agri-food economy presents an opportunity for Canada, given our abundant resources and expertise. The need for a rigorous policy debate

A detailed and transparent discussion on the carbon tax policy is overdue. Since its introduction in 2015, the policy has shown minimal impact on climate change. The Trudeau government’s development of a powerful intellectual lobby, including the Climate Change Institute and the Smart Prosperity Institute, has made the policy landscape even more complex. These institutions tend to promote the carbon

money because this is unpaid work.

So teachers are still getting paid, which is one reason why this job action has dragged on for along as it has. That said, withdrawing extracurricular support may not be quite as effective for teachers in pressuring the government ... or it may be something that cuts into much-needed public goodwill teachers also need if they are to move the government on the most critical issue.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME

They MUST be signed, approximately 300 words in length and are subject to editing. Thank Yous will not be permitted in letters

tax without adequately assessing the policy’s actual effectiveness and consequences.

In recognizing the undeniable threat of climate change to our agri-food sector and the wider environment, it is imperative to approach mitigation with caution and strategic foresight. Canada is poised to lead a worldwide shift towards a more effective, inclusive carbon market mechanism, surpassing the current

seemingly thinks it has an inexhaustible money supply in our tax dollars, it, too, has both money and goodwill problems.

carbon tax model’s limitations.

But this endeavour must be grounded in solid empirical evidence, open policy debates, and a readiness to embrace more efficient, globally advantageous climate solutions. Our aim should be to nurature an economically thriving agri-food sector that is at the forefront of sustainable environmental stewardship.

health unions - will want the same thing. And that will be big bucks.

“I think we’re closer than we have ever been,”

STF President Samatha Becotte said in an inter-

“We did float the idea of putting the accountability framework in legislation,” Cockrill said. “When you put something in the Education Act, that becomes law.”

This is why what you have been seeing have been rotating strikes and now “indefinite withdrawal” of extracurricular services that doesn’t cost the union

By contrast, the government has no financial costs accumulating because teachers are on strike. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, they are saving money when they don’t have to pay teachers.

And while government

The money problem is down the road. Why it seems unwilling to commit to a clause in legal STF contract addressing class size and composition may be less philosophical and more to do with the fact that this would be a bigger, less predictable financial commitment than the government’s current deficit budget is willing to take on.

Certainly, it could spell longer term problems in that this is the first major public sector contact currently up for negotiations. If the STF is successful, other unions - especially costly

So the government may throw out the notion that it will write this into law, what it seems to willing to write into legislation is that it would be financial matter to settle between teachers and their local school boards.

This why the word “binding” remains critical to the STF.

“I know that the word legislation seems to be binding but, at the same time, we have seen this government change legislation kind of on a whim,” Becotte said.

Breakthrough? Maybe? But maybe not.

Notable Notes

Bob Mason

( Editor’s Note: Bob wrote this piece for the February 4, 2002 edition of The Independent. Gzowski - Mr. Canada - born July 13, 1934, passed January 24, 2002)

Certainly there is no need for anyone to try and write about the life and times of Peter Gzowski, for the times of Peter have always seemed so much like our own!

Even that family name, which always sounds so Polish and surely comes from central Europe somewhere, has long been accepted into that Canadianism which generations of Gzowski’s have always promoted in this country.

It would be a mistake for anyone to claim that ancestry is not a Canadian thing. Being part of one of the worlds greatest melting pots, we all realize that the worldwide basics of many ancestries are a really integral part of Canadian culture. One would think - as in Peter Gzowski’s case - that after many years of public adulation, some of it would eventually “go to his head”, and of course it was with this false image that we approached the great man for the first time.

Phyllis and Y.T. (Yours Truly) had gone to Regina. I forget who asked us to go so that we could meet them. This was a good many years ago, and we practically tiptoed into the hotel lest somehow we disturb the high-level thoughts that we believed this great man must be thinking.

Were we ever mistaken!

As we humbly sat by the admittance desk at the hotel, a tall, halfshaven fellow in a manyholed turtleneck sweater came up.

“Are you the Mason’s?” he asked as he flicked a much too long cigarette ash at a nearby tray.

Naturally we thought that this ordinary kind of sloppy guy in running shoes must be an underpaid hotel employee.

“We came to see Peter Gzowski!” we blurted, although we felt this guy had never ever heard that name before.

“I’m Peter,” he announced casually. “C’mon upstairs!”

We may have felt a bit edgy for a while because he was a fairly famous fellow even at that time. But that feeling sure didn’t last very long. By the time he had halfapologized for not looking like a big-shot, introducing us to a few of the influential local notables standing around, we felt as much at ease as if we’d just gone across that road!

I’m not sure that anyone, anywhere heard what we had to say to that casual man as he interviewed us that day. But I do know that although protocol insists that one act exactly so when in contact with great people, Peter Gzowski was something else!

He gave one the impression that the next time you saw him on the street you’d holler, “Hello, Peter!”

Well, a “next time” did come along, all right! I almost feel that I’m boasting here, but then I feel a little humble too!

My wife was away working somewhere and Y.T., believe it or not, was washing some dishes when the phone rang. Of course I answered with, “What kept you?”

A familiar voice came on the line and said, “Can I speak to Bob Mason, please?”

His voice was a clear as

Peter Gzowski

if he were next door. “I’m not in Perdue,” says the voice. “I know it’s a great town but actually I’m in Toronto.”

“Too bad,” consoles Y.T. “I was just going to offer you a cup of coffee!”

“Look,” says the voice, “if the CBC pays your fare down here and puts you up in a hotel, will you come?”

Y.T. thought that over for a second or two.

“Sure,” Y.T. says. “When?”

So a short while later, Y.T. ends up in the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, strolling over the next morning to the CBC. I walked down the hallway a bit and a little short guy in a plaid coat greeted me.

“Good morning!” he smiled. Of course I greeted him back but I knew I’d seen him somewhere before!

“I’m looking for Peter Gzowski,” I said. “Do you have any idea where he might be?”

The little guy indicated a door and said, “Peter’s in there, I think!”

Y.T. opened the door and walked in ... and there he was!

I think maybe he had changed sweaters since I’d seen him last because the one he had on didn’t have quite as many holes in it, and the running shoes of last we met had been replaced by a sagging pair of loafers. Although I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the same cigarette in his hand, overall he was the same guy ... tall, a little bent, and a little shaggy, but definitely Peter Gzowski. We talked a little bit in that way he had of making you feel that he’d known you all his life. I then asked about the fellow out in the hall.

“Did he have a plaid coat on?” Peter asked, and of course I said that he had.

“Oh, him?” Peter exclaimed, “that was Gordon Sinclair. I imagine that you’ve seen him on Front Page Chal-

Asquith Council news for April

Asquith Town Council held its regular council meeting on April 10.

Attending was Mayor Gail Erhart, and Councillors Darcy Stack, Pete Heck, Cecilia Mryglod, Jodi Nehring, and Wade Monks-Janzen. Also attending was C.A.O. Kathy Picketts and Office Assistant Kaila Montgomerie.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Erhart at 7 p.m.

A resolution was made to accept the council minutes from the March 13, regular council meeting.

Council made a motion to accept the March 2024 financials and March 2024 bank reconciliation as presented to them at the meeting.

Accounts Paid in the amount of $29,046.04 and Accounts Payable of $33,852.69 was accepted as presented.

The Town of Asquith received information from the Municipal Potash Tax Sharing Administration Board that the Town will be receiving $20,977.24 for the 2024 estimate.

Education Mill Rates have been set as Agri-

lenge!”

Honestly, we visited for half an hour or more, and it didn’t even seem to me that I was being interviewed until when I came home and the letters started coming in.

Some of them we saved, and one of them is one of my most valued scraps, an envelope addressed to: Bob Mason, c/o Peter Gzowski, CBC, This Country in the Morning [a nationally broadcast Canadian radio program - Editor].

In those times of so called “World Community”, what a refreshing feeling it was to meet a Canadian like Peter!

Canadian intellectuals are scattered all over the world but what a feeling of comradeship and being somebody we have when we see that Canadian symbolism so present in people like Peter!

We are going to miss you Mr. Gzowski, maybe

a lot more than we realize right now. Out here on the lone Prairie, part of our “way of life” has always been planting the kernels that we hope will

produce next year’s crop. Much as you, for years, from coast to coast, have been planting the seeds of Canadianism! Au revoir!

NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL VILLAGE OF LANDIS

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Village of Landis for the year 2024 has been prepared and is open to inspection at the office of the assessor from: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m to 3:00 p.m. on the following days: Tuesday to Thursday, April 3, 2024 to May 3, 2024 except all public holidays.

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

Any person who wishes to discuss the notice of assessment or potential appeal, contact the Assessor at the Village of Landis, Box 153 Landis, SK S0K 2K0 or by calling 306-658-2155

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal, along with fee, to: The Secretary, Western Municipal Consulting Box 149 Meota, Saskatchewan, S0K 1X0 by the 3rd day of May, 2024.

Dated this 3rd day of April, 2024.

NOW HIRING

culture - 1.42 mills, Residential - 4.54 mills, Commercial/Industrial6.86 mills, and Resource - 9.88 mills.

Virtue Construction has been awarded the contract for street sweeping in the Town for $4,515. Please watch for upcoming dates for street sweeping.

If you have changed your phone number, please contact the Asquith Town Office to update. Often this office must contact individuals regarding water disruptions and an updated number is not available.

contacted.

Shantell Redlick Assessor

Ask The Money Lady

Christine Ibbotson

Dear Money Lady Readers,

I often get asked about how to help people deal with money issues and many Canadians want to know how to change their partners, especially if you’re a saver and your partner is a spender.

Often our financial decisions are deeply rooted in what we’ve learned as a child, including our past socioeconomic status, culture, experiences, and our parent’s attitudes towards money. Let’s face it, life’s expensiveespecially nowadays.

It’s easy to go into debt without really indulging. We’re all trying to cut back and spend less, but understanding your relationship with money helps you find ways to improve your situation.

There are seven money personalities that researchers have divided us all into - and of course, some of you may have a combination of

few. Which trait do you most relate to?

Once you have decided, try to see the differences between you and your partner and then you can work on a plan to help each other.

First up is the Worrier. This is a person who constantly worries about losing money. It doesn’t matter how much money they have - they are always worried about losing it. Typically, they lack the confidence to believe they can ever be financially stable, and I like to call this trait the Money-Prepper - always preparing for the worst, always anxious, and always expecting a disaster to happen sometime in the near future.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Gambler. This type of person takes big risks with money, but the problem is they also have extreme mood swings. Sure, they love the thrill of risky money moves but then tend to crash hard when luck isn’t on their side. Be careful with this trait. Gamblers will often go into debt or use savings to take more risks to make up for past losses. Then there’s the compulsive saver. This is someone that saves money endlessly and views their money as their security. This is a

big bargain shopper and will take being cheap to the next level. They’d wrestle a discount out of every sale if they could, and there happiest when they’ve snagged something for nothing.

Opposite them is, of course, the compulsive spender. And we all know what this person does. This is usually someone that spends when emotionally depressed or in need of immediate gratification. Even if they have a lot of debt, these spenders will continue to go shopping. In extreme cases, this person tends to hide large purchases from family and friends, and even though they feel remorse, they can’t stop, and often are at a risk of going bankrupt.

The compulsive money maker is the next one. This is someone that believes life is better when you earn more. This could also be a workaholic. These people believe their top priority is making more money and will want recognition for their financial success, for example, a trophy house, an expensive car, or some type of toy that represents their wealth.

Next up is the person who is indifferent to money. This person rarely thinks about money. They never

worry and are not very responsible with their finances. They feel that money shouldn’t influence important decisions and usually believe that they only need a modest amount of money to be happy.

The last money personality type is the saver and spender. This is probably most of us. Someone who saves a little and spends a little.

This person is smart with their money for most of the time but then given the right circumstances, spends impulsively out of nowhere, usually regretting later.

So how did you do?

These traits are taken to the extreme in my opinion, but it is a good exercise to uncover your reaction to each trait and perhaps work on changing your relationship with money for the better.

Good luck and best wishes!

Written by Christine Ibbotson, author, finance writer, national radio host, and now on CTV Morning Live, and CTV News @6, syndicated across Canada. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at askthemoneylady.ca

Town of Biggar Employee Profile Welcome to Biggar Camille

We, here at the Town, would like to introduce to you the newest member to join our team, Camille Box.

She has been working in the position of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer since the middle of March, and we can’t say enough good things about her.

She and her husband Bryan have four children and are relocating from the community of Silton, Saskatchewan. Camille brings with her a wealth of knowledge as her previous employment was with the RM of McKillop. Camille enjoys time with her family hiking, camping, swimming, and other outdoor activities.

If you are nearby, swing into the office to say hello!

Agriculture

Calvin Daniels

by Calvin Daniels

Certain topics in agriculture have tended to dominate farm mediathis column includedover the years.

For example the protracted debate which finally led to the elimination of the Canadian Wheat Board. The Port of Churchill, and the evolutionary move to zero till farm practices would be such topics.

Currently, the trend toward robotic agriculture is added to the list.

There is no doubt in this writer’s mind that robotic farming is the next big thing in terms of on-farm operations.

Just what the future will look like is of course an unknown. In many ways the basic foundation of robotic technology is very much in its infancy, and what improvements will be made in the next decade will be beyond what most of us can even start to imagine.

Your next hired hand will be a robot

Then how that technology is adapted to agricultural applications is another facet of development which is going to be significant, if not fully understood today.

So it’s hardly surprising to see a producer. com story about DLG (the German Agricultural Society), which organizes Agritechnica, the world’s largest farm machinery show, adding a new feature to its upcoming outdoor Feldtage (field days) event to do exactly that.

“FarmRobotix is to become a platform that will supply farmers with relevant information,” said Malene Conlong, DLG’s international press liaison in the article.

Robotics have been part of the annual field

days event for several years, including a design competition for field robotics. The FarmRobotix focus will emphasize that element of emerging technology.

The addition to the show is simply testament to the realization of the importance of robotics, and with that in mind how critical it is to keep the producer aware of what is emerging in the field.

When I think back my father quit school so he could focus on working horses in the field, and he lived to see fourwheel drive tractors with air conditioned cabs and radios.

Had he lived only a couple of decades longer he would have seen the earliest autonomous tractors, and drone tech-

PUBLIC SURVEY

PIZZA FLAVORED LONG JOHN?

STEAK FLAVORED DONUT?

nology.

Imagine what a younger farmer today - to quit school at 14 - will see a half century from now.

What will robots being

doing in our word and on our farms in 2074?

It’s a question even the likes of Isaac Asimov would find challenging to imagine, but it will

most certainly be greatly different from the typical farming of today.

Change is a constant and that includes how farmers farm.

Biggar United Church BBQ, Garage & Bake Sale

907 Quebec St. Biggar

Friday, April - BBQ starts at 4:00

Friday, April - 5pm to 8pm

Saturday, April 2 - 9am to Noon.

Call the church at 948-2280 for pick up of garage sale items.

ANNUAL SPRING AGM

WEDNESDAY APRIL 24th, 2024

7:00p.m.

WESTWINDS MOTOR HOTEL

2024 UPDATES and INFORMATION for THE COMING SEASON

Everyone is Welcome

by Trudy and Dale Buxton

Well, it’s 2024 and a new season. This past Sunday had us start the new year with a trip to Dundurn for lunch.

The weather in the morning was a little cool, but as the day progressed so did the heat. It turned out to be a very good day for riding.

We had eight motorcycles in the bunch as we headed south and a stop at one of our favourite places to go, Tim Horton’s. If it was lunch time, A&W would be a good stop.

Did I ever mention that Rick and his team at the A&W in Rosetown is one of the premier places for A&W’s? It’s all about the service.

After a coffee and a fritter we continue on

Highway 15 to Outlook. The roads are pretty good this time of year, but we are always weary of the dreaded potholes that may come up.

By the time we get to Outlook the temperature has warmed up a bit. After a short break we head east to Kenaston. On our way to Kenaston, we pass a historic site that was once part of the Carlton Trail from Moose Jaw. This trail was used by early settlers into the area as well as First Nations people who used the trail to travel between Moose Jaw and Saskatoon.

“Blizzard Capital of Saskatchewan”. The town has a 18-foot tall snowman holding a hockey stick as its mascot.

Did you know that the town of Kenaston was once known as “Bonnington Springs”? The name was changed in 1905, when Saskatchewan became a province, to Kenaston honouring F.E. Kenaston who was the vice-president of the Saskatchewan Valley Land Company. The Saskatchewan Valley Land Company was a syndicate of wealthy men who had bought up 1.75-million acres of land from the Dominion Government,

Qu’Appelle, Long Lake and the Saskatchewan Railway Company. The company was reorganized under the name, Saskatchewan Valley and Manitoba Land Company, to sell an additional four million acres of agriculture land that belonged to the Canadian Northern Railway. In the era of the Great Saskatchewan land boom, which ended with the beginning of the First World War, the company had sold 5.5 million acres of land to early settlers looking for agriculture land and a place to homestead. The land company played an important part in the formation of Saskatchewan. The Town of Kenaston is also known as the

Next, we head for Dundurn and another fantastic lunch at Big Mur’s Tavern. This tavern always has great food and great service; if you are in the area this is a good place to join with friends and have a good meal.

We head back to Saskatoon, stopping in Sandy Ridge for ice cream before finishing our first trip of the year.

All in all, a great start to the season with fun being had by all. We put on a little over 300 kilometres.

Stay tuned next week as we start with a trip into Alberta.

Ice Cream stop at SandyRidge

Kenaston’s mascot a 18-foot tall snowman holding a hockey stick.

The pat on the back

my morning rounds I went back to the quality control lab to begin to write my morning inspection report.

But before I started my report I thought about the incident with my operator and the dynamics behind it.

One day on my factory job in the city, I was doing my morning rounds throughout the plant as the Quality Control Checker on my shift.

I went from machine to machine throughout the entire plant to inspect the quality of product being put out by the operators as I normally did.

When I came to one particular machine, the operator had just completed making his adjustments; he had cleaned the print and made other fine tweaks to improve the overall quality of his product. He was manufacturing large printed rolls of plastic film to be sent to a folding machine to be converted into industrial strength shipping sacks in a later process.

Everything was looking good.

After I completed my inspection of his product and made my notes, the operator asked me, “How’s the print?” Distracted by upcoming duties I was thinking about, I absentmindedly replied to him that everything was okay. He became indignant. “Just okay?” he huffed back at me.

Taken aback by his reaction, I went back over and took a second look at the fine print on his product. It was clean, clear and sharp as a tack. To appease the operator, I went back over to him and told him so.

After I completed

And I began to realize: He just wanted a little positive acknowledgement that the adjustments he made to his product were good. He put a lot of work into improving the quality of his product and wanted a verbal pat on the back for a job well done from the Quality Control guy, one of the people on shift whose opinion actually mattered. When that acknowledgement was not forthcoming, he became indignant.

And after some more thought, it was then that it began to dawn on me that all I ever did was find fault on my rounds. While that was my job, I learned that day that a little pat on the back every now and then from someone on shift whose opinion actually mattered can do wonders for a machine operator’s morale. He knew his product was good and I knew his product was good and he simply wanted me to acknowledge the effort it took on his part to make it that way. So after that day I made the conscious decision to say something good every now and then to an operator about their production if there was something good to be said.

Just before I took the Quality Control job on my shift, my former Shift Supervisor and newly promoted Print Supervisor took me aside and gave me a little talk, telling me that I was soon to be the last line of defense before the final product went out the

door.

I knew what he meant by that and took that little talk he gave me to heart. While the bad must be rooted out and corrected, to keep a good emotional balance amongst the employees the good should be acknowledged every now and then as well.

Everyone needs a pat on the back every now and then. If the fine print on their manufactured product was clean and sharp I now made a point to say that to an operator every now and then. It usually brought a smile to the face of the operator, especially if they had done a lot of work on it to get it that way.

While I was never hated in my Quality Control job, admittedly there were times when I was definitely not liked or welcomed by the operators simply because of the nature of the position. After all, no one wants to see the Quality Control guy coming towards them at three o’clock in the morning to discuss a problem with their product. I tried to be as gentle and diplomatic as I could and still effectively do my job.

To any Quality and Safety Inspectors out there who might read this column: obviously, you have to do your job thoroughly and effectively to ensure the greater good. The bad must be rooted out by you and corrected for public and consumer quality and safety reasons.

But if you have cause to say something good on occasion, please take the opportunity to do so. Sometimes a few kind words can make all the difference in the world to an individual who is under scrutiny at that moment, especially if that individual is having

Keith Schell

Masons donate ... Members of the Biggar Masonic Lodge No. 100 present a cheque to Christina Olson for $1,000 to help with her ongoing expenses.

Eastern Star provides soup, sandwich, socializing ... Biggar’s Eastern Star members cooked up a noon hour soup and sandwich fundraiser at the New Horizons, Friday, April 12. It was a tasty and wonderful time to get a great meal and a bit of socializing. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Did you know we offer Social Media Advertising?

Would you like to advertise on Social Media but are unsure where to start?

We can design full color Social Media friendly Ad’s for you to share on any Social Media platform. Along with your ad being shared on our Social Media pages.

All Social Media Ad’s will also be printed in our weekly newspaper! Contact Dale at The Independent for pricing or inquiries!

Biggar bowlers medal at Provincials

North Provincial HiLo Doubles at Eastview Bowl in Saskatoon were held April 6.

Representing Biggar Bowlasaurus (age 5-7)

was Ashton Kramer and Benjamin Olson with Coach Melissa Raschke. Bantam teams were Harlan Tilsley and Peter Olson, Nolan Poirier

and Nash Wheaton also coached by Melissa Raschke. Junior teams were Parker Schweder and Carson Oesch, Dominic Raschke and

Bentley McNaughtin, Jesse Bourk and Xander Hebert all coached by Brandon Markewich. Senior teams were Noah P and Hanna Keefe,

Jake Keefe and Kiersten Raschke coached by Jason Raschke.

Nolan and Nash came home with Bantam Gold Provincial medals and

Xander and Jesse Junior Silver Provincial medals! And Benjamin won the draw for Elmo!

Biggar Bowl weekly scores

Monday Adult Mixed

Tuesday Night Mixed

Ladies High Single - Melissa Raschke 245. Ladies High Triple - Melissa Raschke 516. Mens High

Single - Jason Raschke 253. Mens High TripleJason Raschke 652.

Ladies High Single - Melissa Raschke 247. Ladies High Triple - Melissa Raschke 552. Mens High

Single - Joseph Silbernagel 251. Mens High Triple - Joseph Silbernagel 650.

Penton On Sports

She was born on the 22nd day of January, 2002, wears No. 22 for the Iowa Hawkeyes and her team finished No. 2 in the NCAA women’s basketball championship, but Caitlin Clark has No. 1 written all over her. There was perhaps no more famous athlete in North America during the month of March than Clark, whose dominance on the basketball court turned her from a prodigy to a legend. She was the obvious No. 1 selection in last week’s Women’s National Basketball Association draft, going to the Indiana Fever, and most sports analysts

by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery

Did you know that there was a dairy here in Biggar from around the 1930’s to 1950’s? I haven’t found a lot of information yet, except these great photographs.

It seems to have had a staff of locals for years. Back in those days

One word for Caitlin Clark: Dominating

in the U.S. predict that thanks to Clark, the women’s pro game will get the same attention boost she gave the college game the past couple of seasons.

Not especially tall at 6-foot-0, Clark nonetheless dominated her sport for the past two years and her team’s games became must-see TV across most of the basketball-crazed U.S.A.

With a deadly eye for the three-point shot, Clark averaged 31.6 points per game as Iowa posted a 34-5 record en route to the national final against South Carolina, which completed its undefeated season with a 87-75 win over Clark’s Hawkeyes. The Clark legend grew and grew and grew all year, to the point where her team’s championship game against South Carolina drew a TV audience of 18.7 million, more viewers than any basketball game in 2024 of any level - men’s or women’s college games, NBA and WNBA included. ESPN has already announced

that 36 of Indiana’s 40 WNBA games next season will be nationally televised.

Coach Dawn Staley of South Carolina was quick to pay tribute to the Clark effect, saying after the championship game that she wanted to “personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport. She carried a heavy load for our sport and it just is not gonna stop here on the collegiate tour. But when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she’s gonna lift that league up as well. So Caitlin Clark if you’re out there, you are one of the GOATs of our game. We appreciate you.”

Besides becoming a household name, Clark also became the collegiate game’s alltime leading scorer, with 3,685 points in four seasons. The men’s mark which she surpassed was held by LSU’s Pistol Pete Maravich, who scored 3,667 points in three years.

Clark will undoubtedly sign a lucrative contract with Indiana and

continue to be a Sports Centre darling, but money is the least of her worries. Thanks to the introduction a couple of years ago of Name, Image and Likeness payments to college athletes, Clark is already worth more than $3 million, with dozens of endorsement contracts to her credit. Good thing, too, because the maximum salary for a WNBA rookie is $76,300. Tip money, basically. The phenomenon that is Caitlin Clark now enters its next chapter, and the WNBA will be the beneficiary. In stock-market parlance, the WNBA’s arrow is pointing straight up.

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “Even though Dec. 25 is on Wednesday this year, the NFL announced that it will play two games on Christmas Day, thus commandeering a holiday that was once the NBA’s showcase day. In the NBA’s eyes, the NFL truly is ‘The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.’”

• Eamon Lynch of golfweek.usatoday.com:

“Bryson DeChambeau, one of the arsonists who set golf’s house on fire, is now complaining that others aren’t moving quickly enough to extinguish the blaze.”

• Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, saying the 12th hole will never be lengthened, as suggested by 2000 champ Vijay Singh: “That’s almost like asking, you know, can we touch up the Mona Lisa a little bit.”

• Headline at TheBeaverton.com : “O.J. Simpson funeral to feature ceremonial televised white bronco chase.”

• Another one from the Beaverton, which wrote a story headlined: “Ten names for Utah’s new NHL team even less representative of the state than Jazz. No. 5: Utah Gangster Rappers; No. 8. Utah Open Past 10 p.m.-ers”

• O.J. Simpson death headline in the The New York Post, exhibiting extreme New York Posty: “Real Killer is Dead.”

• And the Beaverton, piling on: “O.J. Simpson

Biggar’s past industry in dairy

there was obviously not that much reliance on trucking to meet the needs of the community. Imagine having a dairy here in town again. But then I can’t even remember seeing any dairy cattle contentedly munching grass on the hills around town lately. Do you have any memories of the Dairy Pool?

Where does the milk come from now? Does the milk I use every morning for my latte and cereal come from contented Saskatchewan cows? I don’t know about you, but I have no clue where the dairy products I consume come from, other than Saputo and Dairyland. But those names tell me nothing about where the

cows are.

I do remember hearing a story from the distant past when the Dairy Pool was broken into. But the thieves were unable to crack the code to get into the safe and left with only 50 pounds of butter. At nearly $9 a pound now, that would have been a decent heist.

dies surrounded by family members he didn’t kill.”

• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “The Masters music makes Barry Manilow sound like The Clash.”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “Tiger Woods says if everything comes together, he believes he can win another Masters. He got me so fired up I sent another set of marriage proposals to Ann Hathaway, Margot Robbie and Gal Gadot.”

• Another one from RJ Currie: “Pittsburgh police arrested a Nashville Predators fan for throwing a catfish onto the ice, then later dropped all charges. Poetic justice - he was caught and released.”

• Headline at fark.com: “Shohei Ohtani was not involved with his interpreter’s gambling scandal according to the Brinks truck of money MLB used to make it the truth.”

• Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca

Bruce Penton

1940. Three women and three men standing in front of The Dairy Pool building; from left to right: Gordon Burton, Lana Turner, Winnabel Craig (Tweddle), Kay Sully, Ray Tebb, Art Wheatland. (Photo for The Independent by the Biggar Museum and Gallery)

1940. Rusty Searle, son of the Dairy Pool manager.

1944 (above) 1950.

- together with -

ARIES –

Mar 21/Apr 20

Aries, this is a great week for transformation. Be careful where you direct your attention, as what you do will have lasting effects. Choose your plans wisely.

TAURUS –

Apr 21/May 21

LIBRA –

Sept 23/Oct 23

A conflict in your life that you may feel is beyond your control may crop up at the worst time, Libra. Use this as a learning opportunity on how to cope under pressure.

SCORPIO –

CAPRICORN –

Dec 22/Jan 20

Nothing can stop you when you put a lot of gusto behind your efforts, Capricorn. Just be mindful of who you might affect if you take things with a little too much ambition.

AQUARIUS –

102 - 3rd

Use this week’s powerful energy to strip away all of the unnecessary static in your life right now. It is doing more harm than good. Open yourself up to new opportunities, Taurus.

GEMINI –

May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, there is a lot of stuff going on around you, and you need to sort through the noise to determine your priorities. Things will start to become more clear this week.

CANCER –

Jun 22/Jul 22

You are in a great position to make some lasting and strong impressions on others, Cancer. Focus on group work, as this will showcase how well you work with others.

LEO –

Jul 23/Aug 23

PHONE......306-951-0078 or 306-951-0098 SERVICES Naty/Michael…

Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, you have the power to produce a powerful outcome, even if it seems that forces are working against you. Do not give up; in fact, double down your efforts.

SAGITTARIUS –

Nov 23/Dec 21

Sagittarius, take things with a grain of salt if people seem insensitive to your feelings this week. You don’t know what others have going on in their lives.

Jan 21/Feb 18

Aquarius, are you getting the sense that something is going on around you that you’re simply not a part of? Maybe your exclusive invitation is just waiting in the wings. Be patient.

PISCES –

Feb 19/Mar 20

Pisces, stand up for what you want, even if means that you are taking a different stance than others. You don’t have to please everyone in every endeavor.

Leo, you do not know which direction to go in this week, and that is perfectly fine. Try out different options and figure out what fits best. This will require some trial and error.

VIRGO –

Aug 24/Sept 22

This is what I worked up for the Business & Professional section in back of paper, 6 month commitment for $161.20 plus gst

Price… 2.5 inches = $201.50 plus gst per 6-month prepaid commitment. Please get back to me with changes/corrections by return email this morning. Thanks Urla (Answers on Page

Virgo, you have a tremendous amount of power at your disposal this week. Use all of it wisely and thoughtfully. Others will be strongly affected by your presence.

Choices

by Allan Shakotko, Biggar Associated Gospel Church

In 1979, the singer Bob Dylan, released a song called “Gotta Serve Somebody”.

He very skilfully explains that regardless of who you are, or what you do in life, you are going to serve one of two masters. Dylan sums up his thoughts with two iconic lines, “Well, it may be the Devil or it maybe the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”

The truth of this song is echoed in the Bible by a great leader of Israel named Joshua.

Joshua had led the nation of Israel into the land promised to them by God, and it was nearing the end of his life when he gave the nation some fatherly advice. Joshua challenged the nation to make a choice regarding whom they would serve.

The choice was between serving the Lord God or serving the idols that were worshipped around them. Joshua’s challenge to the people was asking them if they are going to pledge their allegiance and energy to follow the God who had faithfully protected, cared for, and helped them, or are they going to follow the way of

gods that couldn’t speak, hear, or see and had to be carried around?

The choice should seem simple, and yet we are faced with a similar situation today. Are we going to serve and trust the God who is revealed in the Bible? Or are our energies going to be spent chasing things like money, leisure, fame, power or harmful addictions?

Joshua makes it clear that we have a choice in how we live our lives. God will respect that choice even though all the time He lovingly and graciously is leaving the invitation open for us to have a personal relation-

The Biggar Museum & Gallery will be hosting their Annual Volunteer Appreciation Brunch at 11:00 – 1:00 on Saturday, April 20.

Our volunteers will be calling people who baked for us in the next little while. Some of the phone numbers we have on file are discontinued, likely because the person has switched to a cellphone. Please call the museum at 306-948-3451 if you volunteered, or baked for the museum fundraisers so we can invite you!

ship with Him by faith in His son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “ Come unto Me all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Joshua concludes his address with a line that is often posted on plaques in homes, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

We sincerely appreciate those who reached out with condolences, donations of food, donations to her charity of choice, flowers and the shared stories about mom, Deanna Ellis.

To the staff at the Biggar Health Centre words cannot express the wonderful care and kindness given to all of us through that journey. To the local business that went above and beyond to help us out with whatever we needed.

We would like to thank her friends and neighbours and for all those home made meals that helped immensely. We realize how fortunate we are to be from such a generous community.

The Ellis Family

The members of Westview Apts. thank the following people for completing a project we have been anticipating for some time.

Wednesday April 10th, Richard Olson, Gordon Evans, Waynedel Lewis, Brandon Proctor, Josh Hawkins, Ian Hawkins and Ron & Louise Hawkins delivered and set up a shuffleboard in our common room.

Thank You

St. Gabriel roman CatholiC ChurCh

109 - 7th Ave.W, Biggar Father Edward Gibney

Parish Phone: 306-948-3330

Saturday Mass.......7:00p.m.

Sunday Mass....... 11:00a.m.

our lady of fatima CatholiC ChurCh, Landis Sunday Mass.......9:00a.m.

Presbyterians, Anglicans and Lutherans

St.Pauls Anglican Redeemer Lutheran 205 4th Ave. E 319 7th Ave. E APRIL 28, REDEEMER LUTHERAN

Biggar associated gospel church

312 - 8th Ave.W. and corner of Quebec St., Biggar

Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

All are welcome to come and join us

Biggar United ChUrCh

REGULAR SERVICES

SUNDAY 11:00 am

Pastor Dale Worrall

Inquires Call Church Office 306-948-2280 Leave Message

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

SATURDAY SERVICES

BIBLE STUDY 10:00a.m.

CHURCH SERVICE 11:00a.m.

320 - 6th ave.east contact: 306-951-8445 3 abn www.amazingfacts.org

You are

Museum

Gallery ... The mother and aunt of the artist currently on exhibit in the Biggar Museum and Gallery dropped in for a visit. Here, they are posing in front of the pencil sketch of their mother. The name of the show is Propagation - the gardener uses propagation to extent their crop, as well as propagating the joy of gardening to the rest of family. (Submitted Photo)

President Jim Rickwood, presents Biggar New Horizons Project Coordinator, Susan Bernier, right, with a cheque for their approved grant application. Grant proceeds to be applied to much needed renovations. (Submitted Photo)

Josh Nickel and Michaela Smith from the Biggar and District Family Centre receive their grant proceeds from Biggar and District Community Foundation Inc., President Jim Rickwood, left. Grant proceeds will be applied to two new programs for the Family Centre. (Submitted Photo)