The Biggar Independent Volume #114 Issue #34

Fields of Gold ... Harvest it underway for some farmers in our area, and it is hoped that it will be a bountiful and safe time. For motorists, take your time and be patient as farmers move equipment on highways and grid roads. Be safe out there, and let’s hope for a great 2023 harvest! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Biggar residents have been enjoying the trails on the town’s north side, giving walkers and bikers a great opportunity to enjoy summer, get out and take in the warm weather. In addition to the Sandra Schmirler Olympic Gold Park pathways, the trails are making for a variety of views, chances to sit on benches, admire some of our local gardeners efforts, and swoop through the trees. Well done! A big thank you to the Town of Biggar and all who made the trails possible!

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

Drought support for Saskatchewan livestock producers on the way

Support is coming for Saskatchewan livestock producers affected by drought.

The Government of Saskatchewan announced Monday the province is making up to $70 million available to help offset extraordinary costs of feeding livestock to maintain the breeding herd in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan continues to work quickly with the federal government to jointly examine how AgriRecovery could help respond. Provincial funding will be available based on receipts or appropriate documentation for extraordinary expenses for the purchase of feed or transportation of feed or livestock, to provide cash flow to eligible producers impacted by significant drought.

“Immediate measures are needed as farmers and ranchers deal with significant challenges due to drought,” Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said. “Our government is committed to ensuring livestock producers have the support they need, as they continue to provide the high-quality food Saskatchewan families rely on.”

The program will be administered by Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC).

“We appreciate the province stepping up and providing their portion of the AgriRecovery

Biggar New Horizons obtains lifesaving AED

payment,” said Keith Day, Board Chair of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. “We look forward to a similar announcement from the federal government to provide their funding to ensure our producers get the help they need through these challenging times.”

“This support is promising, and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is thankful for how quickly the province stepped up to assist those livestock producers most in need, it will certainly help,” said Ray Orb, president of SARM. “We are confident that the federal government is working together with the province to assess how they can provide additional support through AgriRecovery and look forward to seeing what that much-needed assistance will be.”

Saskatchewan’s funding will provide eligible producers with up to $80 per head to maintain breeding stock for beef cattle, bison, horse, elk, deer, sheep and goats. The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to providing assistance as soon as possible to producers.

Other supports have been implemented to help mitigate the situation. The Governments of Saskatchewan and Canada have agreed to increase the 2023 AgriStability interim ben-

efit payment percentage from 50 to 75 per cent, so producers can access a larger portion of their final AgriStability benefit early. The AgriStability compensation rate also recently increased from 70 to 80 per cent. In July, the federal and provincial governments announced SCIC was doubling the low yield appraisal threshold values to allow additional acres of cereal, pulse, canola and flax crops to be diverted to feed. Saskatchewan has also frozen the 2023 rate charged to producers who lease Crown grazing land. Additionally, through the 2023 Crown Grazing Lease Rental Reduction Program, lessees may be eligible for a rent reduction due to the impact of drought.

Producers in some areas of the province are dealing with drought, particularly in western Saskatchewan. Precipitation has remained well below normal, contributing to a substantial moisture deficit and hindering recovery of pasture and forage ranges.

Additional information, including application forms, will be available in the coming days at scic.ca or call toll-free at 1-844723-1211.

The Biggar New Horizons recently acquired an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for their hall.

A $2,000 grant from Kinsman Telemiracle, as well as donations from Biggar’s Gordon and Shirley Laycock, Margaret Louise Singer, and Bruce and Helen Delainey, made the lifesaving device a reality for users of the hall on Third Avenue West and Queen Street.

A huge thank you to Kinsmen Telemiracle and the caring citizens of Biggar in helping bring this project to fruition. A special thanks to Margaret Louise Singer for her suggestion the Biggar New Horizons try the Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation for help.

If the Biggar New Horizons can save one life with this AED, the project has been successful!

Biggar RCMP report

by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment

This week members dealt with 34 occurrences. Traffic related incidents reported; a motorist was unhappy with the way a crew was moving a house down Highway 14; A deer strike on Highway 4 south; Report of an impaired driver that was located and found to be too tired to be driving; Complaints of speed in the Springwater 60 zone going through the town where two motorists found themselves

with tickets for exceeding the speed over 30 km/h and 25 km/h over the maximum speed limit;

A report of country road rage with a resident concern about speed on the gravel road in the RM of Biggar and acting irrationally about it; Also, in the RM a report of a suspicious light grey truck with black rims and a headache rack snooping around yards.

CN rail reported needing to make an emergency stop at Kinley after a report of mischief by someone on the old bridge blinding the crew with a flashlight, and another report of people walking on the tracks along Airport Road in Biggar.

A white and dark blue BMX has been stolen from Fourth Avenue and is still missing. If anyone has located this bike dumped somewhere, the owner would appreciate being reunited. Hunting jealousy or envy is starting early - report of hunting camera being stolen. It would be nice if the subject would just return this camera undamaged.

Not going to beat Milo with that kind of karma. Another four reports of fraud scams - still no new tricks by these fraudsters to report. Report of stolen bottle recycling, but not to worry - Dad made his 39-year-old son pay for what he took. Two incidents reported where liquor got the best of a few, and police mediation was required. Finally, the week would not be complete if there wasn’t a report of a dog barking somewhere - Eighth Avenue West was the hot spot.

On a positive note, the system listened to all the victims and those effected by the crime spree of Tami Falcon. The 23-year-old, accepted responsibility for her actions through the community and was sentenced 360-days with a 65-day credit for her remand time. She will now take up accommodations at Pinegrove for the remaining 295 days. Suspect number two will be in court for the liquor store break enter and theft on September 6. Take Care out there!

Bingo Numbers for August 24 B-9 I-21 N-45 G-56 O-66

Harvest Reward ... Farmers are putting in long harvest hours, and we all hope it is going to be a bountiful one as the 2023 crop is being taken in. Here, a pair of combines make quick work of a field north of Biggar this past weekend. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Susan Bernier, Biggar New Horizons Coordinator, poses with the new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at their facility. Local donations and the Kinsmen Telemiracle made the device a reality for the Biggar social hotspot. (Independent Photo by Dale Buxton)

by Susan Martinuk, Senior Fellow, Frontier Centre for Public Policy and author of “Patients at Risk: Exposing Canada’s Healthcare Crisis”

Last month, the Winnipeg Free Press ran a particularly sharp critique of Manitoba’s healthcare system, decrying provincial healthcare budgeting as “parsimony” and stating that monetary decisions made by the government since 2015 have created a healthcare crisis in Manitoba. It strongly implied that the solution is ... more money.

If only it were that simple. And if only the healthcare crisis was limited to Manitoba.

Unfortunately, universal healthcare woes, from extended waiting periods to doctor shortages, are no strangers to Canadians. Recent data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) underscores the grim reality:

According to the report:

• about 12 per cent of Canadians are without a family doctor; • waitlists for medical procedures have soared from a median of 19.4 weeks in

Money alone cannot save healthcare

2015 to a staggering 31.5 weeks in 2021; • 743,000 fewer surgeries were performed during the first 2.5 years of COVID.

The report also documented 18 million overtime hours in public hospitals between 2020 and 2021 - the equivalent of 9,000 full-time jobs, so, of course, healthcare workers are burning out.

Healthcare chaos, in other words, is not a problem in any one provinceit’s a Canadian problem.

And, as Canadians have observed over and over again, pouring more money into a broken system is not a solution. Canada already has the second most expensive healthcare system in the world. Healthcare will cost the average family (of two parents and one child) about $17,000 in 2023. It’s difficult to imagine how much more of a tax burden Canadian families are willing to endure.

So, what are some ‘systemic’ solutions that could improve Canadian healthcare?

One idea that seems to be gaining traction is changing hospital fund-

ing from huge, black-box global budgets to activitybased funding.

Hospitals represent the largest healthcare expenditure in Canada. With global budgets, each patient represents an expense and encourages hospitals to do what they can to reduce access and expenditures. They are also notoriously inefficient in containing costs. By contrast, under activity-based funding, each patient represents a source of income and adds to the hospital’s financial resources. Hospitals are paid based on the number of people treated and procedures performed; this has been shown to increase access to, and cost efficiency of, healthcare.

Activity-based funding is already in place in some hospitals in Canada - but the vast majority still fall under global budgets. This is just one of many reforms suggested by a task force of emergency department physicians in Canada. Their report has been two years in the making, and the draft report is available online.

It will be a significant

contribution to the conversation about healthcare because Canada’s Emergency Departments serve as the nadir for the constellation of crises that now constitute the Canadian healthcare system.

Emergency Departments are the first place patients go when they can’t access a family doctor. They are where hallway medicine begins as a shortage of hospital beds puts patients who need to be admitted on stretchers in busy hallways. They are where geriatric patients find themselves when they have chronic conditions and need the kind of care that should be provided in a longterm care situation or by a family doctor. No wonder the Emergency Department report says, “For us to survive, our entire ecosystem must change.”

Another systemic reform that has proven successful in other countries is the “purchaser-provider split.” As the name suggests, this is a model of healthcare delivery in which the payer for the service is separated from the service providers.

That doesn’t happen in Canada - under our public healthcare system, the government both pays for and provides the service. One can easily see how inefficient this can be.

Healthcare reform is desperately needed, but our federal and provincial governments are out of money. Change can only come through innovation.

By-elections do tell us something

voters flirted with unity.

People were united in wanting to o remove the Grant Devine PCs from office in 1991. Similarly, the Saskatchewan Party that initially struggled gain city seats in its early going has certainly drawn urban vote in its four massive general election wins.

seat - a riding that takes in much of his old Thunder Creek that’s been a conservative since the 1970s previously held by Stewart, Rick Swenson and Colin Thatcher.

ning Sask. Party candidate Blaine McLeod still received more than 50 per cent of the vote.

a few Buffalo Party candidates did in the 2020 general election.

result you want.

We have a rural-urban divide in Saskatchewan, but we all know that.

We have known that for about 40 years - or at least since the 1986 election when the thenProgressive Conservative government held on to power despite losing virtually every city seat.

Sure, there’s been occasions when provincial

Nevertheless, the three by-elections earlier this month didn’t tell us much about the political splits we didn’t already know ... unless you look deeper into matters.

To the surprise of no one, the NDP took back city seats of Regina Coronation Park and Regina Walsh Acres that had been previously held by Sask. Party MLAs. Along the same vein, the Sask. Party maintained their former MLA Lyle Stewart’s Lumsden-Morse

Losing two of three seats that the Sask. Party held is obviously not good news for Premier Scott Moe and company ... although one should be careful not to read too much into this.

The two urban seats also happen to be north Regina - traditionally, solid territory for the NDP. Given that by-elections are where voters tend to feel safe sending a message to government, these were not shocking upsets.

Moreover, the NDP didn’t exactly make serious gains in the bedrock rural seat if LumsdenMorse seat in which win-

In fact, the NDP still has not won a rural byelection and the Sask. Party has not won a byelection in Regina and Saskatoon since the Sask. Party was formed in 1997.

But before one concludes that these byelections were relatively meaningless teaching us little we already didn’t know, let us revisit that Lumsden-Morse campaign and the aftermath.

Perhaps it isn’t completely shocking that Saskatchewan United Party (SUP) candidate Jon Hromek edged out the NDP to finish second with 22.7 per cent of the vote. It was a solid effort for a new party, although maybe not all that surprising given how well

What is less surprising is the influence that SUP has and continues to have on Sask. Party government policies, as seemed to be the case with controversy over the Planned Parenthood material that, inadvertently, made its way into a Lumsden Grade 9 classroom.

We saw the same thing after the 2020 general election when Moe stated he “heard” the Buffalo Party voters and embarked on his “economic sovereignty” agenda including provincial policing, income tax collection and the Saskatchewan First Act to appeal federal decision.

This time, Moe’s postbyelection message was “don’t split the right-wing vote” or you won’t get the

But there was little to suggest that was happening in the three by-elections in which each winning candidate got more than 50 per cent of vote.

Besides, SUP didn’t even run candidates in the cities where their vote splitting would take a difference. But why would they when they can still influence government by simply being a perceived threat to the Sask. Party in rural ridings they need to win to form government?

It sure seems as if SUP is more interested in maintaining its influence than they are in the splitting the right-wing vote and electing helping elect an NDP government they surely wouldn’t be able t influence.

If there is a vote split, it’s taking us further right.

Murray Mandryk

Provincial Viewpoint

Notable Notes

Bob Mason

Our son Richard bought a dictionary years ago, and left it here.

Richie died some time back, and whenever a word is used that I don’t know the meaning of, often I say, “I’ll go and ask Richard!”, open the book and look it up. One fall when elections were announced, newscasters started using the word, “Hubris” a bit, and not being quite sure what is meant, “I asked Richard!” “Hubris,” the dictionary

by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery

In our Research Library here in the museum, we have binders full of pioneer stories.

These were recorded on cassette almost 50 years ago. Shirley Williams later transcribed all the interviews, put them in binders and they are there for you to read.

I have gleaned so much information by taking the time to read some of them! Now I feel I should share some of the interviews with you. Learning the history of the early settlers will help us to appreciate and be proud to carry on the dreams these people brought with them.

Following are excerpts

Hubris

said, is “N[GR. Hybris] wanton, insolence or arrogance resulting from excessive ...” et cetera and et cetera. I told our neighbour.

“Around here,” he said, “they call that kind of stuff, B.S., which stands for ...”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I butted in, knowing darn well that the Independent wouldn’t accept his definition, “but I’m thinking of writing up a bit for the Biggar paper and they wouldn’t print that!”

“Call it anything you want,” he replied resignedly. “It’s still B.S!”

I suppose a person could use some sophisticated expressions like, “Skilled at personal persuasion” for a headline, but maybe we’d better stick with “Hubris”!

It used to be that hubris - or B.S. - was a means in itself to gaining a temporary end but in this modern time, combined with the findings of behavioural scientists and

mixed in with some often crude political manoeuvres, it has helped create a method of influencing public opinion that is really something else!

Example: Don’t ask me to explain this but when we were kids I remember reading somewhere that someone had made a survey and found that when folks were asked to pick a number between one and 10, over 50 per cent chose the same number.

I imagine that there is a whole book full of this kind of stuff that influences people’s unconscious opinions and one can bet that along with the “Hubris” often given out by some folks at this time, that book has been quoted over and over!

Actually, in a crude translation of the above rhetoric, the bottom line is something like, “We can fool them suckers every time!”

I was talking to a political type the other day and they assured me (over

all my misgivings) that democracy was really alive and active in Canada. I hope they were right! But I can’t help wondering about their example of how to win! Because these people, whom we choose by ballot to represent us, sometimes employ very devious methods in order to win us over. Does this mean that we, in order to gain our ends, must do the same?

A while back while looking through my old loose leaf L and T (Life and Times), one entry really stuck in my mind.

“Mother and Dad were honest!” And no wonder, family pride aside, they were only one couple in a whole generation of honest people.

To follow the above mentioned mudslinging example, must we sacrifice the ideals of these old guys on the stage of political gain?

Surely, in our democracy - every other impor-

tant issue aside - common sense must be the main one for every party. I would like to, I think, but after watching some of their antics on TV during political debates, I can’t say that they impressed me as anything remotely resembling common sense was missing!

I’m an old guy now and kind of a pacifist, but I like to think that we still have control of our faculties.

Maybe I’ve got it all wrong! Maybe this is the only way that the whole democratic set-up will work ... I dunno! But often I wonder why one political party will never admit that another party has had a good idea!

Maybe they’re afraid of looking a little too good, and everybody knows, “Good guys finish last!”

Hey, there’s a thought! What is the definition of “last”? Is it that little unimportant person we all liked who was our good neighbour and

Some stories from pioneers

from one of the transcriptions:

Interview with Sam Crozier, July 1974 by Alice Ellis

Mr. Sam Crozier came here with his parents from Scotland in May 1910. The temptation of 160 acres for only $10 helped them make the decision to emigrate to Canada. There were five children and the parents, heading for Canada. Since then, the Crozier families have made a remarkable contribution to the development of our community. Eleven days on the ship and then on a train, they eventually arrived in the Keppel area, west of Perdue in May 1910. They found a homestead with water on it. There they built a sod house where

the barn sits now. They spent their first winter with relatives, and in the spring moved into their own wee home. Without a table or chairs, no chickens but they did have a cow!

The older boys went to school at Tweedyside, a 4.5-mile walk. They shared scribblers, three or four for one scribbler. Their father worked on the Jack Courtney farm. He would come home on Sundays and bring eggs with him to boil ... a big treat! Church services on Sundays were had in the wee sod house, with their father taking the service.

The Allanbank School opened in 1913. Nothing fancy ... about 18 feet wide and 26 feet long, and in the corner the

usual pot-bellied stove. The students heated their sandwiches up on the stove because they would be frozen after carrying them from home and at a distance from the stove. But, if you were misbehaving during school, we had to sit in the corner and eat your frozen sandwich!

The Croziers were a musical family and entertained neighbours for several years. Their first public gig was the opening of the Keppel Hall. Sam played clarinet, coronet, trumpet, and soon bought himself a saxophone. His sister Bessie played piano and brother Walter the drums. They played at the lake resorts in the area, Crystal Lake, Skinner’s Lake, and Springwater Lake.

As the Dirty Thirties hit, some of the family members left the area to try to make ends meet or got married. Neighbours joined the troupe and they continued to play. They were happy to receive a quarter for a night’s entertainment.

Bill Gidluck, Bill Doucette, Ervin Armstrong, Mable Fouhy (Mrs. Walter Armstrong) where the members of the band.

Sam remembers the year the King and Queen came to Biggar in June of 1939. Cars were as “scarce as teeth in a hen’s mouth and gas was scarcer and so were tires”. Sam offered to take his mother and

never had nothing? Or is it “What’s-His-Name” who moved into our part of the country a few years ago, cleaned up, moved on and retired somewhere on the West Coast?

I guess I won’t ask Richard about that word!

This pessimistic rundown of my personal viewpoint is apt to give one the impression that there is not much use being involved, and I’m sorry if that is what this write-up does!

Actually, if a subversive attitude does develop in our government somewhere, maybe they would really want us to stand aside and let them have their head!

Hubris aside, far from suggesting that our politics are out of control, let’s all get in there and say what we think is the way things should be and how they’re done!

father in his old Model T ... unfortunately the tires had started to rot, and he lost them all on route. Thankfully the old Model T’s could run on the rims! It was very, very hot that day. A great commotion of people, (there are reports that eight to 10 thousand people were

there) but he was able to take his mother through the crowd and she got to shake hands with the Queen Mum! A very proud moment in the life of his mother. His stories go on and are all available in our Family Research Library right here in the museum.

Sam Crozier and his siblings were one of the first students in the Allanbank School. This photo of the school was taken in 1970. (Photo for The Independent by the Biggar Museum and Gallery)

Ask The Money Lady

Christine Ibbotson

Dear Money Lady, I’m wondering if you can provide advice on RESPs. We have two kids currently aged 14 and 16. We opened a family RESP account approximately 12 years ago contributing monthly. We have no idea how to plan for future expenses beyond the basic tuition. I’ve read online that a

car purchase could be deemed eligible for a student, but I’m not certain. Do I need to get a financial advisor to help?

Carol

Dear Carol, I’ve always recommend having a Family RESP plan versus individual plans because it has so much more flexibility - so you were really smart to do it this way, good job! There are a few key components of a RESP that you must be aware of. The limit on lifetime contributions for any one beneficiary is $50,000 and any over contributions are subject to a penalty of one per cent per month. You can make contributions to the plan for up to 31 years and it can remain open for up

to 36 years. If the beneficiary is disabled, you can contribute to 35 years, and it will remain open for 40 years.

There is a basic CESG, (Canada Education Savings Grant) for beneficiaries of the plan under the age of 18, (special rules apply for children over 16). The Canadian government will add 20 per cent annually to the first $2,500 contributed, a $500 bonus every year. The maximum CESG over the life of the plan is $7,200 per beneficiary. The benefit to a family plan is that when you are planning to allocate the funds among the beneficiaries, you will not be restricted on withdrawals and can direct more to a child whose education

expenses may be higher. Almost all Canadian universities and colleges qualify for a RESP including some outside of Canada, (CRA will be able to provide a complete qualifying list). A part-time student can access up to $2,500 for each 13-week semester and a full-time student can access up to $5,000 during the first 13 weeks of initial enrolment, with no limit thereafter, (so if you wanted funds for a vehicle - I guess you could take it).

The funds withdrawn are taxable upon the beneficiary, resulting in little to no tax payable because they are a student. If you have any leftover funds after each child has completed their education, you can transfer up

to $50,000 of the plan’s earnings to your RRSP provided you have the contribution room (you can check on the Canadian government website at: cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ ndvdls/tpcs/resp-reee/ menue-eng.html.)

I think you are fine to use the financial institution where the RESP is held and it will not make any difference going to an independent advisor since the rules are explicit on how it can be used,

A word or two from the Mayor of Biggar

and organizations to get involved with and it certainly builds community when we all stay active and socialize. Please check it out! Also, a street party is being planned for September so keep your eyes out for information coming soon on that.

As the days of August pass by more quickly than we want to see, we witness shorter days, and the season turns to harvest.

After the effects of a very hot and dry summer, our hopes and prayers go out to the farming community for a safe and productive operation. Our grain goes to international destinations and our garden excess is usually shared with friends, neighbours as well as the food bank making Saskatchewan one of those suppliers of the world’s food supply.

Most of us have the fortune to be able to turn on a tap for our home and garden use and we are very thankful for that resource as our country and the world struggle with that which we take for granted. It’s awesome to call Saskatchewan home!

Our community is hosting an Information and Registration Night on Thursday August 31 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Biggar Community Hall. It is an event that provides information on activities available in Biggar for children, youth, adults, and seniors. The is so much to do and get involved with in Biggar and I encourage everyone to attend and find something to become involved with in our town. We have so many worthwhile opportunities

The Town of Biggar is still actively participating in the establishment of a Farm in The Dell location in Biggar. We, of course, are assisting in any way we can to make this opportunity a reality for our community. On September 9, the Farm in The Dell - Aberdeen location, is hosting a fall wiener roast and celebration. This will be an excellent chance for anyone to check this phenomenal organization out if you want to make the journey to Aberdeen or are in the area. It is one of those places you will never regret visiting. For more information the event is posted on the Town of Biggar’s Facebook page and website.

I want to comment on a recent incident concerning Town procedures regarding an at-large cat that had no visible ownership identification and was trapped by a private citizen. The Town regrets that the cat was not impounded as required within the Animal Control Bylaw and was instead released outside of Town limits.

After a concern was brought forward, the Town immediately conducted an investigation into the incident. After review, a new bylaw was drafted with procedures to ensure that this type of incident will never happen again. Animal Protection

Services completed their investigation of the incident on July 27, 2023, and were satisfied with the Town’s cooperation in updating the entire Animal Control Bylaw with their input mainly surrounding humane trapping and impoundment procedures. As a result, the Town implemented all recommendations from Animal Protection Services into our new Animal Control Bylaw that was passed on August 1, 2023.

Further information on the new Animal Control Bylaw will be included in the October utility bills, and the new Animal Control Bylaw is available to view on the Town’s website.

Also in October, the Town of Biggar will be receiving the 2023 Community Project of the Year from the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance. I want to say thank you again to all the volunteers, business owners and residents near and far for their support in this project. Please-remember to shop local. Our shops, restaurants, contractors and suppliers need us, but we also need them to keep community viable. It all makes for a Biggar and better community.

As council, we are very pleased to announced that more recruitments have been made to our health care teams at both the long term care and acute care levels. These enhancement will bring us to a full compliment of registered nursing staff and additional physician placements. There are of course changes always occurring within staffing levels, however the

hurdles that were before us a year and a half ago have been cleared. We, as the Town of Biggar, are very fortunate to have an exceptional working relationship with Saskatchewan Health Authority and especially Julianna T and Sharon F. We owe them a great deal of respect and thanks for their support and strengths in getting our facility back on track. We should all be mindful of the commitment and also the challenges that health

care workers face on a day to day basis and be respectful to the people that look after us and our loved ones. Nothing is gained in life by treating others without the respect that we expect in return. Being kind is free and effortless and makes others feel respected.

A big shout out to our RCMP as well! We are very thankful for the job they do on a daily basis in working towards keeping our town a safe place to call home. With staffing

withdrawn, and administered among each beneficiary. I hope that helps.

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. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at askthemoneylady.ca

enhancements on the way for their service as well, we can consider ourselves very fortunate when we hear of the challenges our country faces. Awesome work RCMP!!! I cannot go without recognizing our volunteers also---truly the unsung hero’s that make our lives better by doing what they do. So many hours of dedicated commitment by so many make Biggar a community of choice!

Creating livestock environments key to economic success

management consulting and farm asset management professionals who specialize in the agricultural industry.

Agriculture

Calvin Daniels

by Calvin Daniels

While the contents were not particularly surprising it was interesting to see that the pork industry can still be an economic driver.

A recent Brandon Sun story noted that a Manitoba Pork report stated that over half of all agriculture and food processing jobs in Manitoba are tied to the hog sector at 55 per cent.

The story went on to note, “the report, undertaken by an independent economic impact analysis, was released on Aug. 3, with numbers compiled by Serecon, a group of valuation and appraisal,

“The provincial hog sector contributes 22,000 jobs across Manitoba in both urban and rural communities, as well as over $2.3 billion to the provincial GDP annually. Each year, Manitoba’s hog sector directly contributes $139 million to the provincial government in tax revenue, and another $87 million in municipal tax revenue.”

Those are impressive economic indicators, but are, as I noted to start, particularly surprising.

There was a time Saskatchewan was on a pork sector development trajectory that would likely have mirrored such numbers, but growth here bog downed.

At the time pigs were seen as an ideal fit to create rural economy, and that vision was based on several factors.

To start with barn construction creates jobs. Once barns open they create more jobs, and those jobs are in rural areas, which is a positive for smaller towns and villages where job creation can be difficult.

Of course finding work-

ers in rural areas became a barrier too.

The barns become a local market option from farmer wheat and barley, and lots of it.

The need for the alternative market waned as commodity prices jumped, and canola evolved to be the key crop grown.

And, of course there is always the opposition to hog barns, often based on odour, although there is a smell associated with many economic drivers; canola crush and oil facilities included.

So what made the sector so attractive at one time hasn’t exactly remained as drivers.

But, once established the hog sector does generate economy in terms of jobs, market for grain and a product marketable to the world.

Livestock is a huge part of a vibrant rural economy that we should not lose site of.

Certainly prices, as a commodity, are cyclical, but that is a part of farming.

The key is creating the best frameworks possible to help facilitate long term viability - something they seem to be achieving for pork in Manitoba.

Sunflower heaven ... Biggar gardener, Barb deHaan, put her green-thumbs to work this year, coming up with these wonderful sunflower plants. Tall and full of colour, the herbaceous flowering plant is a beautiful site to behold as we slowly move to the fall season. (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Barb deHaan)

Asquith Town Council August news

Asquith Town Council held its regular council meeting on August 9.

Attending was Mayor Gail Erhart, DeputyMayor Jackie Stobbe, and Councillors Darcy Stack, Pete Heck, and Jodi Nehring. Councillor Cecilia Mryglod attended by calling in on her personal cell phone. Also attending was C.A.O. Kathy Picketts.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Erhart at 6:59 p.m.

A resolution was made to accept the council minutes from the July 2023, regular council meeting.

Council made a motion to accept the July 2023 financials and July 2023 bank reconciliation as presented to them at the meeting.

Accounts Paid in the amount of $122,170.28 and Accounts Payable of $75,664.48 was accepted as presented.

Fall Clean Up Weekend has been scheduled for the September 9-10 weekend. BN Metals will also have bins this same weekend as well. This is for Asquith Residents only.

by Trudy and Dale Buxton

We continue from Golden, British Columbia, and travel east on the TransCanada towards Lake Louise.

I must say if you have never travelled the TransCanada in B.C. then you have to try it. The views are spectacular and on this day we are travel-

ling through the “Kicking Horse Canyon”. Where there are some sheer drop-offs to the rapids below. If you like a little adventure, there is a spot about 20 minutes from Golden where you can do some white water rafting.

At the east part of the canyon there is “The Park Bridge” which is almost 300 feet above the river and 1,200 feet across.

Continuing east we come to the Village of Field, which was established in the 1880’s as a settlement of tents and shacks for the workers of the railway.

The name Field came from Cyrus Field, an

American who was being courted by the Canadian Pacific Railway for his money.

The community soon became a hub of activity as a tourist community.

It is in the centre of Yoho National Park and has a year round population of around 175 people. Field is administered by Parks Canada. In 1901 the area surrounding the town was named “Yoho” which is a Cree word or expression of “awe and wonder” because of the vast beauty of the area.

Field is the perfect place for the tourist adventure, photography and for the wildlife that roam the area.

Next up is the very busy Lake Louise.

Lake Louise is one the most recognizable places in Canada. Lake Louise was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, who was the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, and eventual wife of the Marquess of Lorne, Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883.

Lake Louise features a glacial lake with stunning turquoise colour that comes from the rock “flour” that is carried into the lake from the melt waters.

If you choose to make a reservation, the Fairmont Chateau stands on the east side of the lake and

is one of Canada’s grand railroad hotels. There are hiking trails and of course you can go canoeing out on the lake. In the winter time it becomes a fabulous ski resort and one of Canada’s premier stops for skiing and snowboarding. If you want to take a dip into the lake the water is always very cold due to the glacial run off.

There is certainly an abundance of wildlife, so much so that coming into Lake Louise you will notice the wildlife corridors on the highway. These are manmade structures that allow wildlife to pass over the top of the highway to avoid being hit by vehicles.

The area around Lake Louise has the one of the highest ratios of grizzlies to humans and is not an animal you want to approach.

The town of Lake Louise, which is about five kilometres down the hill, has a year-round popula-

tion of around 700 people.

This area is one of the most photographed areas in Canada - a must on anyone’s bucket list. Stay tuned for more adventures of The Saskatchewan Traveller.

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Flap to it, and plant a fall garden for Monarchs!

As our summer gears up for the last warm days before Autumn settles in, so to do our Prairie Monarch Butterflies gear up for their big migration south.

August is an eventful month for the Monarch on the Prairies. Milkweed is in full bloom, starting to develop pods, and the last of this summers Monarch caterpillars are completing their metamorphosis into the beautiful iconic butterflies that we all love.

This month watchful eyes can be lucky enough to catch Monarchs in all forms of their life stages, and it is one of the best times to give Monarchs a helping hand in the garden.

“Migration takes an enormous amount of energy,” Emily Putz, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator at Nature Saskatchewan explains. “The adults that emerge now are in a race to get the nutrients they need to survive the journey.”

The summer generation of butterflies will survive up to nine months, journeying 4,000 kilometres south to their wintering site in Mexico, where they fast throughout the winter before producing the next generation to begin the flight northward in the spring. Foraging before they begin their flight can give them the boost they need to get going.

“That’s were the public can come in to help,” further explains Putz. “Lots of people know about the importance of Milkweed to a Monarch caterpillar, but it’s often forgotten that ample late-blooming nectaring species are equally important to the adults in late summer.”

If you already have Milkweed incorporated into your yardscape, planting other nectaring plants completes the picture for the monarchs and will attract them to your Milkweed more readily.

Planting your garden with Monarchs in mind can create a habitat that blooms late into the fall season, while benefiting a huge number of our other native insect and bird species alike. When looking to which species to plant, perennial native plants will give Monarchs the energy they need.

“These flowering species are already adapted to

our climate, making them low-maintenance once established, there’s also the added benefit that our native pollinators are also adapted to their bloom times and know to look for them,” Putz states. The large yellow blooms of our goldenrod species produce right into the fall, as well as golden and purple native asters, purple vervain, and pink blazingstar. Planting these species creates an attractive landscape to insects and humans alike. Stay away from tropical species, especially Tropical Milkweed, which may be colourful and advertised as butterfly benefiting, but can do more harm then good to Monarchs, spreading wing deforming disease and tricking them into staying too long before the frost.

Saskatchewan’s Monarchs begin their flight southward by the end of August into September. If you happen to spot one on its journey, or at anytime of its lifecycle, please report your sighting to Nature Saskatchewan’s toll-free HOOTline, 1-800-667-HOOT (4668) or e-mail Emily Putz at outreach@naturesask. ca. Every sighting helps fill the knowledge gap of this iconic butterfly in it’s Prairie range.

The NEW HORIZONS will be having a GARAGE SALE

September 9th from 9:00am - 3:00pm in the New Horizons Hall

As an added bonus there will be a Fabric and Sewing Sale in the basement of the hall. We are accepting donations of gently used items. For furniture donations please call the office at 306-948-5115 and we will arrange to do an online sale.

SEE YOU THERE!!

August oil and gas public offering raises over $16.6 million

The Government of Saskatchewan’s Crown petroleum and natural gas public offering held on Tuesday, August 8, has raised $16,689,771.93 for the province.

Of the 111 parcels posted, 92 parcels received acceptable bids. These bids covered 22,060.899 hectares.

The Estevan area brought in $9,022,070.38 for 70 leases and three exploration licences totalling 9,146.727 hectares.

The Kindersley area brought in $6,273,105.45 for two leases and one exploration licence totalling 10,005.237 hectares.

The Lloydminster area brought in $1,394,596.10 for 16 leases totalling 2,908.935 hectares.

The highest bonus bid

received on a parcel in this offering is $6,171,216.64. This 9,226.194-hectare exploration licence was awarded to ISH Energy Ltd. and is located in the Kindersley Area.

The highest dollars per hectare received in this offering is $11,040.85/ hectare. This 129.519hectare lease was awarded to Hummingbird Energy Inc. and is located in the Estevan area.

After three of six public offerings this fiscal year, the province has received $37,183,902.32 in revenue. This greatly exceeds the $19.4 million that was budgeted for the entire 2023-24 fiscal year.

The next scheduled date for a public offering in Saskatchewan is October 3.

(Photo for The Independent courtesy of Val Thomas)

(Photo for The Independent courtesy of Raeleen Fehr-Rose)

Showers pause harvest

Scattered showers across the province paused harvest for a short time, but producers welcomed the moisture.

Saskatchewan crops are nine per cent harvested this week, ahead of the five-year average of eight per cent and the 10-year average of five per cent, according to the weekly crop report for the period August 8 to 14.

The southwest is leading the province in harvest progress, with 20 per cent of this year’s crop harvested for the year.

Producers in the northwest were delayed this week due to rain showers and have harvested only one per cent of this year’s crop. Producers have made progress harvesting all crops this week, excluding flax. Fall cereals are still the most harvested crop this week, with 61 per cent of fall rye and 56 per cent of winter wheat taken off for the year. Field peas and lentils are the most harvested spring seeded crops; 36 per cent of both field peas and lentils have been harvested provin-

cially. Oilseeds, in general, have been harvested the least so far.

All crop districts received some moisture with the showers that moved across the province this week. The most significant moisture received was 67 millimetres in Esterhazy, followed closely by 63 millimetres in Lipton. An increase in soil moisture was recorded this week.

In cropland, 26 per cent of topsoil has adequate moisture, 45 per cent is short and 29 per cent is very short. Twenty-one per cent of hay and pasture land has adequate topsoil moisture, 45 per cent is short and 34 per cent is very short.

Crop reporters were asked to report on water supply and quality this week. Provincially, moderate water supply shortages are occurring for livestock producers, with many anticipating more significant shortages soon while some are already reporting severe water shortages. Producers can visit their local regional office to have the quality

of their livestock water sources tested.

Crop damage this past week was due to drought, wind damage, gophers, grasshoppers and flea beetles. Producers are busy combining and desiccating crops this week, while others are marketing cattle and hauling water for livestock.

Harvest is a busy time for producers. The public is reminded to give machinery extra space and time when travelling on roadways. The risk of fire this harvest is exacerbated by the dry conditions seen throughout the growing season and producers are encouraged to have fire mitigation resources at the ready. Dry conditions can be stressful for producers, and they are reminded to take safety precautions in all the work they do. The Farm Stress Line is available to provide support to producers toll free at 1-800-667-4442. Additional resources related to dry conditions are available through the ministry website or by contacting their regional office.

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Harvest high-def ... This beautiful harvest photo by Laura Kowalchuk says it all. Byron Redlick is kicking up dust as the sun sets, August 17, turning the sky a stunning red. No doubt, newsprint does this photo no justice as Laura’s photo on facebook shows the true vibrant colours ... a perfect harvest photo! (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Laura Kowalchuk)

Penton on sports

Like a poker player pushing all his chips into the centre of the table and declaring “all in,” new general manager and president of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas of the Pittsburgh Penguins is going for the gusto in the approaching National Hockey League season. Scanning the birth dates of players on his roster, Dubas, 37, the former Maple Leaf wonder kid who was sent packing after last season but quickly caught on with the Penguins, saw that his best players were, well, aging. While 37 may be considered young for an NHL GM, the same can’t be said for players. Sidney Crosby, 36. Evgeni Malkin, 37, Kris Letang, 36, the three pillars of the team’s relatively potent

Karlsson will add ‘power’ to Pens’ powerplay

power play, had perhaps two, maybe three more years of brilliance before Father Time took over. Hence, chips all in. Dubas struck a deal with San Jose Sharks to acquire Erik Karlsson, 33, who may or not be the league’s best ‘defenceman’ but is undoubtedly the NHL’s most potent offensive defenceman. Last year, the Swedish superstar racked up 101 points for the Sharks, 27 of them on the power play, and was 25 points better than the next highest-scoring defencemen - Quinn Hughes of Vancouver and Josh Morrissey of Winnipeg. By the way, Karlsson also won his third James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s best D-man.

Add Karlsson to the Penguins power play alongside Crosby, Malkin, Letang and perhaps Richard Rakell or Bryan Rust (Jake Guentzel had ankle surgery and will miss the first couple of weeks of the season) and it could be red-light horror for opposing teams’ netminders. Crosby is one of the most creative players in the league, but Karlsson may be even better with the puck. Those two controlling the play while Malkin and Letang

get into position to fire rockets could result in an offensive explosion. Scoring powerplay goals is not the whole reason for Karlsson’s presence, though. It’s to try to win a Stanley Cup, and the addition of the super Swede could be an important piece of the puzzle for Pittsburgh. If goalie Tristan Jarry has an above-average season in goal, the Pens should score enough goals to be a Stanley Cup threat.

“I was very excited about the opportunity to have a chance to go somewhere where I could be on a team that is contending,” Karlsson said in an NHL.com story. “It was exciting when I heard that (the Penguins) were interested, so I’m happy that it worked out in the end here.”

NHL training camps don’t open for about another three weeks, and while many eyes will be on Chicago and the Connor Bedard Show, Penguins fans will be excitedly watching how Karlsson, Crosby and Co. work on developing their magic to make life miserable for NHL goalies.

• Headline from theonion. com: “Theatrical Farce Features Teammates, Parents, Coaches Pre-

tending Little Leaguer’s 12-Error Dribbler Was Real Home Run.”

• Headline at fark.com: “Anthony Davis got a $186 million contract extension to continue to get injured for the Lakers through 2028.”

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “Is it just me or does the ACC seem to be shopping at the second-hand thrift store? The ACC adding

Stanford and Cal is like your old Uncle Al coming home from Goodwill wearing a wrinkled, tootight, out-of-style Hawaiian shirt.”

• Brendan Porath of The Fried Egg on the PGA Tour’s ‘designated’ events now being called ‘signature’ events: “So we’re continuing to work our way through the entire thesaurus to find a word that will suggest that

some events are more important than others.”

• LIV-bashing English pro golfer Eddie Pepperell, on Twitter, after Harold Varner III said it was easier to win on the PGA Tour than on LIV: “Unlike money, brains aren’t in abundance on LIV.”

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

Lifesaving School ... Bronze courses are underway at the Biggar Aquatic Centre, teaching kids to problem solve and make crucial decisions to help save lives. Cassidy Burton (second from right) leads students through the course on CPR, choking and developing lifesaving skills. Students are also tested on their physical abilities on the week-long course. (Independent

23092GE2

Bruce Penton

Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

THURSDAY,

Business & Professional …

HEALTH/WELLNESS

FOR RENT

BIGGAR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Housing for families and seniors

Rent based on income Call: 306•303•7246

OPTOMETRISTS

ARIES – Mar 21/ Apr 20

It is time to recharge your batteries this week, Aries. It may be challenging to slow down, but that is just what you need to do or you are going to run out of steam on your next project.

TAURUS – Apr 21/ May 21

Early on this week you may start out in a bit of a funk, Taurus. That all will change with some words from a friend that will help your mood bounce in the other direction.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, the side of your brain responsible for pragmatism has been working overtime. You are ready to solve any problems and find answers to most questions.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

You could be focused on things in the past this week, Leo. This could start you on a trek to track down mementos in a home or to visit an antiques shop to make some purchases.

VIRGO – Aug 24/ Sept 22

Virgo, there is still a lot to learn, but you have the time right now to pay attention to everyone around you to glean what you can. Never stop gathering information.

LIBRA – Sept 23/ Oct 23

Even if others make suggestions, use your own judgement regarding how to spend time this week, Libra. You may want to eschew all responsibilities for something fun.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

SAGITTARIUS –Nov 23/Dec 21

Some outside energy has muted your normally boisterous personality, Sagittarius. You may want to skip out on social scenes and spend some time at home in the coming days.

CAPRICORN –Dec 22/Jan 20

Strong opinions rule the day, so convincing others could be especially difficult in the days ahead. Wait some time and they try again, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Aquarius, there will be some measure of public speaking or performance in your near future, and it is likely giving you a bit nervous. No one will judge you, so try to lighten up.

PISCES – Feb 19/ Mar 20

In BIGGAR

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1-833-948-3331

DENTAL

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OFFICE HOURS

Monday to Thursday

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Phone:306.882.2123

New Patients Welcome! Dr. Krista Maedel & Associates

Cooperation from others has been hard to come by lately, Cancer. That could lead to some conflicts along the way. Collectively you will have to find some middle ground.

Seek new places for any sort of inspiration, Scorpio. You never know what you may uncover unless you visit new places instead of your old haunts. Start exploring this week.

Pisces, you could encounter more oddballs than normal in your daily routines. From customers making scenes to quirky coworkers, you might need to be patient

COURIER

SERVICES

GALLARDO Liner

Naty/Michael…

Services 122 Main St. - Biggar Depot Macklin to Saskatoon & towns in-between Kindersley to Saskatoon & towns in-between Special Event, Airport Service or Doctorʼs Appointments PHONE......306-951-0078 or 306-951-0098

HAULING

Rockin D

Trucking & Cattle

• Cattle Hauling with 21 ft. gooseneck trailer

• Grain Hauling

306.237.7671

Troy May, owner/operator

Fax: 306-237-TROY

email: tmay@hotmail.ca

Super B outfits hauling grain and fertilizer in Alberta and Saskatchewan

• round and large square bale hauling with step-deck or highboy semi-trailers

This is what I worked up for the Business & Professional section in back of paper, 6 month commitment for $161.20 plus gst 306-716-4021

• also buying and selling straw and forage

• also Machinery Hauling

Dan • 306-948-7843 Biggar, Sask.

Dr. Kirk Ewen Dr. Michelle Skoretz Doctors of Optometry

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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!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24,

OBITUARIES

FLORENCE PETERSON

February 17, 1928- August 10, 2023

This is a blessed life and what a journey!

Our wise, strong, kind, funny, cool, inspiring, loving and beautiful Mom, Grandma, GG, Aunt, friend, community and Saskatchewan Builder - Florence Peterson, on August 10, 2023 went to be with the Lord and reunite with her husband Peter Peterson, family and friends. She was 95 years old and lived life to the fullest. Her parents, aunts and uncles at the turn of the 19th century fled prosperous farms in Odessa Ukraine, for the similar situations and brutality beloved Ukraine is facing today. They were welcomed whole heartedly and adopted by Macklin Saskatchewan. She is predeceased in 2016 by her husband Peter Peterson.

Left to mourn brother Edwin Ackerman (Bev) daughter Karen Itterman (Ray), grandchildren: Brent and Lianne (Mike), son Todd Peterson

(Janice), grandchildren: Eric, Hilary (Ross), Elliott (Codie and great grandson Emmett) nieces, nephews , relatives and friends.

She was a woman with: strong convictions, values, boldness, decorum, class, humanity, knowing what is good for the world and Mother Earth. Flo was a powerful supporter of public education, the first woman to be appointed to a Saskatchewan Crown Corporation Board (SaskTel) and we believe the first woman to chair a Saskatchewan Board of School Trustees. This combination of experience, leadership, diversity, inclusion and grit allowed her to put her mark on Saskatchewan’s youth,

LYLE BARBER

July 10, 1968- August 17, 2023

Lyle Barber was born July 10, 1968 in Biggar, SK. to Walter and Lenora Barber. He grew up on the family farm near Duperow, SK., where his passion for farming began. He was a sports fan (some might say fanatic). He had a few jobs after high school, which took him as far as Yellowknife, NWT., but his heart brought him back to the farm, where he lived for the majority of his life.

Lyle had a love for animals and always seemed to have a dog. His most recent companion, Jags, will miss him dearly.

Lyle passed away on August 17, 2023 in Rosetown, SK. after a tough battle with cancer.

families, education, fibre optic innovation, rural sustainability, business, growth, women power, employment, agriculture, competitive advantage, sovereignty, Nation building, prosperity, quality of life and community! She lived through the depression, WWII, number of pandemics, stayed current on the world affairs. She loved Biggar, her family, friends, garden and yard. Special thanks, admiration and gratitude to the staff at the Biggar Health Care Centre. The work you do is the highest of calling. It brought us to our knees!

A private family graveside service & celebration of her life took place on

Lyle is survived by his best friend, Chandra Harrabek; his daughter, Blaire (George) Friesen and 4 grandchildren; his brothers and sisters, Lavina Barber, Allen (Val) Barber, Cathy Allen, Weldon (Denise) Barber, Anita (Trent) Silvernagle, and Shannon (Vince) Morgan; his parents, Walter and Lenora Barber; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family gathering will be held on Monday, August 21, 2023. Tributes for Lyle may be directed to Prairie Harm Reduction Saskatoon : (Online: https:// prairiehr.ca/pages/donate ) Mail: PO Box 4062, Saskatoon SK, S7K 4E3). Arrangements entrusted to Gerein Funeral Service.

Don McKinley

May 18, 1953

August 25, 2022

FALLEN LIMB

A limb has fallen from the family tree I keep hearing a voice that says “Grieve not for me”

Remember the best times, the laughter, the song.

The good life I lived while I was strong Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through

My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.

Remembering all, how I truly was blessed. Continue traditions, no matter how small. Go on with your life, don’t worry about falls

I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin. Until the day comes we’re together again

Forever Loved and Greatly Missed McKinley Family

Monday, August 14, 2023 with Rev. Dale Worrall from the Biggar United Church officiating.

Please in her memory consider a donation to “Go with the Flo - Biggar Nursing Home Residents Activity Fund” Cheques payable to Biggar and District Health Centre. Subject line Residents Activity Department. Post Office Box 130 Biggar, SK SOKOMO

Shout out, big hugs, thanks and love to everyone in Flo Peterson’s life. She was blessed as a result. New York is Big but this is Biggar! Thanks be to God and Go with the Flo!

Arrangements entrusted to Gerein Funeral Service.

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

Worship - 10:30 a.m.

St.Pauls Anglican Redeemer Lutheran 205 4th Ave. E 319 7th Ave. E AUGUST 27 at REDEEMER LUTHERAN ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

Rev. Daphne Bender Pastor’s cellular Phone: 1-306-621-9559 Office Phone: 306-948-3731 (Messages are forwarded to Pastor’s phone immediately)

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

Next Church Service is August 13, 2023 For Emergency Service please call the Church office phone.

INQUIRIES CALL CHURCH OFFICE 306-948-2280

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

SATURDAY SERVICES

BIBLE STUDY 10:00a.m. CHURCH SERVICE 11:00a.m. 320 - 6th ave.east contact: 306-948-2481

3 abn www.amazingfacts.org

NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH

“The Lord’s mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness(Lamentations3:22-23)” You are Invited

Sunday Tea and Coffee -10:15am Worship - 10:30am NEW HORIZONS 117 3rd Ave. W, Biggar

For more info - Philip Watson - 250-487-8476

Biggar and District Arts Council Annual Meeting

Tuesday September. 5 at 7:00pm at the Biggar Museum. We welcome new members. Meetings monthly except July and August.

One last bash as summer winds down is a great way to send off a season that’s synonymous with recreation and leisure. And end-of-summer soirée also provides an opportunity to get together with friends and family before a new school year begins and families’ schedules fill up.

As August inches closer to September, hosts can consider these tips as they plan a memorable sendoff to summer.

• Avoid Labour Day weekend. Labour Day marks the unofficial end of summer in many places, but hosts may want to avoid choosing this popular three-day weekend for their end-ofsummer soirée. A survey from the travel experts at The Vacationer found that roughly 137 million people had travel plans over Labour Day weekend in 2022. Travel is undeniably popular on Labour Day weekend, and hosts likely won’t want to contend with guests’ travel plans. The weekend before Labour Day may produce a greater turnout, which undoubtedly makes for a

Tips to throw a memorable end-of-summer soirée

more enjoyable affair.

• Pick a summer theme. An end-of-summer party should have a theme that evokes the season’s special vibe. A beach theme with some sand in the backyard, some specialty cocktails served with mini beach umbrellas and, of course, some water play for adults and kids can help to establish a vibe that’s synonymous with summer.

• Serve traditional fare. Though hosts who already hosted a handful of backyard barbecues this summer might have had their fill of hamburgers and hot dogs, an end-of-summer party is the last time many people will eat such foods until next spring. So while it’s all right to offer some alternatives, such as meat cooked on a smoker or grilled fish, be sure to offer the standard hamburgers and hot dogs as well.

• Invite the neighbours. It’s tempting to throw a season-ending bash that lasts into the wee hours, but that can be problematic for hosts whose neighbours are within

arm’s length. That potentially sticky situation can be remedied by inviting the neighbours to the party. Neighbours won’t be upset by a little extra nighttime noise if they’re living it up as well. If that’s not an option, hosts can just remember to turn the volume down a notch once the sun sets.

• Create a contingency plan. August can be a bit on the rainy side in many areas, particularly those where hurricane season hits full swing as summer winds down. Though summer storms tend to come and go in the blink of an eye, it’s best to have a contingency plan in place. If possible, ensure outdoor entertaining areas can provide some respite from the elements if need be. A well-placed pergola can keep guests and food safe from the rain and a retractable patio awning can provide an extra layer of protection. Hosts also can clear out part of their home interior and have some backup games at the ready to accommodate guests if the party has to move inside for a little while.

An end-of-summer soirée can be the perfect way to say so long to a beloved time of year.

Gov’t of Canada taking action to support drought-stricken Western producers

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, announced, August 21, an initial list of designated regions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba where Livestock Tax Deferral has been authorized for 2023 due to extreme weather conditions.

The Government of Canada recognizes the significant challenges livestock producers in Western Canada are facing due to exceptionally dry conditions. Compounded by subsequent years of drought, pastures and forage production are significantly impacted, leading to low feed supplies for livestock. The government stands with farm families during this difficult time and is taking action to respond.

The Government of Canada has also worked quickly with the governments of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan on joint AgriRecovery assessments to examine the impacts

Saskatchewan housing starts soar

Saskatchewan’s economy continues to thrive as Statistics Canada numbers released August 16 show the value of housing starts increasing 50.7 per cent from July 2022 to July 2023.

This is the second highest growth in the nation, when compared to other provinces.

“When you look at Saskatchewan, you see a robust economy that inspires people from around the world to call our province home in record numbers,” Minister of Trade and Export Development Jeremy Harrison said. “These numbers are further proof that Saskatchewan remains the best place to live, work and raise a

family.”

These numbers show Saskatchewan continuing to build on a recordbreaking 2022. Exports to the United States hit a record $29.3 billion last year. The province’s GDP growth was the highest in Canada as well, up 5.7 per

cent from 2021 to 2022. Wholesale trade also saw strong growth with an increase of 70.5 per cent in June 2023 compared to June 2022.

Housing starts indicate the number of new housing builds where construction has begun.

of the drought and wildfires. Work with provinces is urgently progressing to finalize the AgriRecovery process and to determine any additional support required to cover the extraordinary costs incurred by producers.

The Livestock Tax Deferral provision allows livestock producers who are forced to sell all or part of their breeding herd due to drought or excess moisture to defer a portion of their income from sales until the following tax year. The income may be at least partially offset by the cost of reacquiring breeding animals, thus reducing the tax burden associated with the original sale.

As a preliminary list of prescribed drought and flood regions is usually completed in the early fall, designation of this provision earlier in the year helps provide assurance for producers as they make difficult herd management decisions. The Government of Canada will continue to monitor conditions across

the country and will add other regions throughout the year if they meet the criteria.

Producers have access to a comprehensive suite of business risk management (BRM) programs that are the first line of defense for producers facing disasters, including AgriStability, AgriInsurance and AgriInvest. The Government of Canada has already supported requests from British Columbia and Alberta for late participation in AgriStability, as well as requests from British Columbia and Saskatchewan to increase the interim payment rate under AgriStability from 50 to 75 per cent. Minister MacAulay also highlighted federal support for British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan to make a one-year adjustment to the AgriInsurance program to make more drought-damaged crops available for feed. This increases the amount of crops available for livestock producers in this time of need.