Assiniboia Times, Assiniboia Saskatchewan -- June 9, 2023 3
4 Assiniboia Times, Assiniboia Saskatchewan -- June 9, 2023
Online Safety Program presented to Assiniboia students Submitted by Sophie Morrison An Online Safety program was hosted at all three Assiniboia Schools in May, hosted by the Safe and Healthy Communities Assiniboia branch. These sessions were presented by Adeel Zaman, a Community Program Officer, “F” Division Crime Prevention/ Crime Reduction Unit with the RCMP. The sessions were on the topic of Internet and Online Platforms, and promoted safety while using online platforms as well as insight on the dangers that are intertwined with social media and other online platforms. These sessions showed how children are the most at risk, and how easy it is for people to hack and gain access to your information to use it for scams, or other crimes. These sessions also discussed how internet
predators use video games to access children, by using chat rooms to gain their trust. Zaman also discussed cyberbullying, and how
something that may seem small can have life-long lasting consequences to those who are victims of cyberbullying and that it is in fact a punishable
crime. The sessions also covered topics like blackmailing, sexual exploitation, online predators, ransomware and recognizing phishing scams.
At the end of the sessions, the students took part in a fun quiz, which tested their knowledge and recognition of online dangers in today’s society.
For more information on Online Safety, local residents can visit the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s website at www. rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Adeel Zaman, a community program officer with F Division RCMP, gave a presentation to all three Assiniboia schools.
Bird watchers encouraged to watch for aerial insectivores The arrival of spring means aerial insectivores have returned to Saskatchewan! This group of birds includes at-risk species such as the Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common Nighthawk, and Chimney Swift; which can be found in both urban and prairie environments throughout the summer months. “Aerial insectivores catch and consume insects mid-flight, and are therefore fantastic at pest control. The presence of these natural predators benefits both people and livestock,” explains Emily Putz, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator at Nature Saskatchewan. “These
at-risk species thrive on large insect populations, and can help make the summer more pleasant in the yard or pasture. Their wide, gaping mouths and agility in the sky allow for the capture of a wide variety of flying insects.” The Bank Swallow is a cavity nester and excavates its nest on the face of steep, vertical cliffs such as streambanks. Breeding colonies range from a handful of pairs to a few thousand, and are found across Canada. They fly over open habitats, eating between 25 and 50% of their body weight in insects each day; They can be identified by their brown backs and white
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Located approximately ½ mile south of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan being Block A, Plan 102345140 Approximately 15.75 acres Four bedroom, two storey home with attached double garage and quonset Does not include grain bins or fuel tanks Further details can be made available by contacting Lewans & Ford Law Firm at (306) 642-4520. Bidders must rely on their own research and inspection of the property to confirm acreages, condition and assessments, or other particulars. All buildings and improvements are included “as is” and “where is”. Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Tenders must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. Thursday June 29, 2023 to Lewans & Ford Barristers and Solicitors. Please submit certified cheque or Bank draft for 5% of the amount bid with tender, payable to Lewans & Ford In Trust, and clearly mark envelope “LEWANS TENDER.” LEWANS & FORD Barristers & Solicitors Box 759 Assiniboia, Saskatchewan S0H0B0 (306) 642-4520 Fax: (306) 642-5777 lewans.ford@sasktel.net
fronts, with a brown band across their breast, as well as their buzzing calls. They will often congregate on roadways, especially where another swallow has been hit by a vehicle, causing road mortality to occur in clusters and posing a significant risk to their population. The Barn Swallow is found throughout the Prairie Provinces, and typically nests on humanmade structures, such as barns, sheds, and bridges. They forage for insect prey over grasslands and agricultural fields, wetlands, and other open spaces, eating upwards of 60 insects per hour (that’s over 850 insects per day!). They can be identified by their metallic blue and cinnamon-coloured bodies and deeply forked tail. Their call is a short “cheep”, or a two-toned “chi-deep” when alarmed. The Common Night-
hawk is most active at dawn and dusk, and uses its mottled brown-andwhite plumage to camouflage when perched on the ground. In flight, they can be identified by a distinct white vertical band on each wing, while their call is a nasal, single-noted “peent”. They are able to adapt to a wide range of habitats, and roost on exposed ground, or artificial structures such as flat gravel roofs. They feast on numerous insects such as mosquitoes, beetles, and grasshoppers. Chimney Swifts, found in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan, have adapted to nest directly inside old chimney columns. They spend the vast majority of their time flying, catching and eating up to 12,000 insects daily! Due to their small size, both the ‘Swifts’ and their nests do not block chimneys, meaning they pose a minimal risk
to infrastructure. Unfortunately, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common Nighthawk, and Chimney Swift populations have all declined steeply in the last 50 years, leading to their listings as at-risk species. Bank and Barn Swallow populations alone have declined by 98% across their range over this time. The decline of aerial insectivores mirrors losses in insect populations attributed to pesticide use, habitat loss and climate change. These species also are often the victims of road mortality. Nature Saskatchew a n ’s voluntary stewardship program, Stewards of Saskatchewan (SOS), works with nearly 250 land stewards to conserve habitat for species-at-risk and monitor population numbers in Saskatchewan. SOS records sightings to help determine
the distribution of these species throughout the province. This information can then be used towards efforts to conserve and restore the habitat and population of these beneficial bird species. “Without the voluntary efforts of land stewards and the general public, recovery of these agile bird species would not be possible” said Putz. She encourages the public to report sightings of these or any other species at risk to Nature Saskatchewan’s toll-free HOOT Line. Private information is never shared without permission. Residents that see any of these species in Saskatchewan or would like more information about the Stewards of Saskatchewan program, can call Nature Saskatchewan’s toll-free line at 1-800-667-HOOT (4668), text (306) 7809832, or email outreach@ naturesask.ca.
A lucky night for Marc Dubuc as he won $34,652 at the Chase the Ace draw at the 121 Steakhouse.