Yorkton This Week 2022-12-14

What is the bid?

Fire destroys complex Dec. 5

SASKTODAY.ca Staff

Yorkton Fire Protective Services was called to a fire at 406 Riverview Road on the evening of Dec. 5.

“Residents within the complex were evacuated and three people were

rescued from the second and third floors of the complex with ground ladders,” read a post on the City of Yorkton’s website. “At approximately 11:15 p.m. the fire was extinguished and YFPS secured the unit where the fire started. As the

complex was closed to tenants, those displaced were provided shelter in hotels,” continued the release.

“At 4:45 a.m. on December 6, 2022 YFPS were called back to the same apartment complex

where a fully engulfed fire was active coming from the third floor,” read the city’s post, adding, “crews began working immediately and at approximately 5:30 a.m. an explosion occurred on the second floor, causing the fire to spread

rapidly throughout the complex. The building was unsalvageable and YFPS’s focus was to contain the fire and ensure the safety of nearby residents.”

“At 12:30 p.m. SaskEnergy was called to the scene to investi-

gate an exposed gas line and was able to secure the line. YFPS remained on scene until 7:45 p.m. to monitor and clean up the area,” continued the post noting, “extreme weather was a huge challenge in mitigating this incident.”

Former Terriers set to face Ukraine team

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies will be playing Ukraine’s national hockey team Dec. 30, as Saskatoon will be the first stop for the visiting team during a ‘Hockey Can’t Stop Tour’.

The Ukrainians will be preparing for the upcoming World University Games as well as using the series of four games on the tour to raise funds for humanitarian and hockey causes in Ukraine, which has seen many of its hockey arenas decimated during Russia’s invasion over the

past nine months. Money from ticket sales will also go toward Ukrainian grassroots organizations in Canada.

The game in Saskatoon will be particularly meaningful for a pair of

former Junior Terriers on the Huskies this year; Alec Zawatsky and Aiden Bulych.

Overall the current college season has been something of a roller coaster ride

for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, said former Yorkton Junior Terrier Alec Zawatsky.

“The season was going great. We started off 6-1,” he said, adding the team

then scuffled through a 3-3-1 stretch where “we lost a couple of games we shouldn’t have.”

But that won’t dull the experience of suiting up against the team from Ukraine.

“I think it’s really cool. Being in Saskatchewan there is a lot of Ukrainian heritage,” said Zawatsky. “. . . It should be a good test for us. . . It’s going to be a really good experience.”

The Ukrainian heritage Zawatsky spoke of includes his own family, where his grandmother makes the tradition perogies, cabbage rolls and

borscht.

And when grandma’s perogies run out for Zawatsky he said he heads to the always popular Baba’s Homestyle Perogies for a meal in Saskatoon.

That connection of heritage also exists for another former Terrier Aiden Bulych.

“Being Ukrainian myself it is pretty special. It should be a pretty cool experience,” he said.

Bulych said the team will battle on the ice but he is looking forward to a supper planned for the two teams complete with perogies and cabbage

Staff Photo by Calvin Daniels

Monday evening 11 tables, or 22 teams, were competing in a Kaiser Tournament hosted by the local Knights of Columbus and St. Mary’s Cultural Center. Kaiser is a card game that has been played for many decades in Saskatchewan, and report-

edly has a Canadian origin. The game is played with 32 cards and four players in teams of two which compete by bidding and taking tricks while trying to acquire the five of Hearts but avoid the three of Spades.

I think it’s really cool. Being in Saskatchewan there is a lot of Ukrainian heritage. . . It’s going to be a really good experience.

— Alec Zawatsky

Being Ukrainian myself it is pretty special. It should be a pretty cool experience.

— Aiden Bulych

TERRIERS

Continued from Page A1 rolls, which he hopes will provide an opportunity to get to know the players just a little bit.

“For sure it’s more than a hockey game,” said Bulych, adding it’s difficult to imagine what the Ukrainian players are facing.

“I’m sure they’re great people that don’t deserve it,” he said, adding he hopes to “. . . pick their brains what they’re

dealing with.”

Bulych said he doesn’t expect stories of the worst of what is happening, but hopes to gain at least some personal understanding of the situation.

While Zawatsky said the game should be a competitive one, he recognizes there is a greater storyline with the contest than hockey with Ukraine battling a Russian invasion.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity to raise some more awareness of what’s going on over there,” he said.

It is not lost on Zawatsky the players he will be facing off on the Ukrainian team might well return home to pick up a rifle and fight for their country.

“I try putting myself in their shoes and I can’t imagine what’s happening; what they’re experi-

encing,” he said.

In that respect Zawatsky said the game reinforces what we have here in Canada and how fortunate he is as a hockey player here.

“It’s a blessing every game to play hockey. Sometimes I think we take that for granted,” he said.

Bulych said he knows he takes his world too much for granted.

“When I think about

it, I know I take what I have for granted,” he said, adding the pressures of school, hockey and life in general exist, but not one of those things compare to what is being faced in Ukraine.

The University of Alberta Golden Bears, University of Calgary Dinos and University of Manitoba Bisons will also play host to games during the tour.

All ticket sale profits will be sent to the Canada/Ukraine Foundation, which provides assistance to humanitarian groups in Ukraine and Canada.

The foundation will disperse the majority of funds to Save Ukrainian Hockey Dream, a charitable foundation operated by the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine with the assistance of the IIHF.

Terriers split on northern swing

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

The Yorkton Terriers were on a northern SJHL swing on the weekend.

The first action was Friday in Flin Flon where the teams traded first period goals.

Jeremi Tremblay opened the scoring with an unassisted marker for the Bombers 4:18 into action.

Logan Cyca potted a powerplay goal for the Terriers at 10:39 to knot things 1-1.

The teams played through a scoreless second period, and in the third frame the host team took control with a pair of unanswered goals for a 3-1 win.

Cole Duperreault scored what was the eventual game-winner at 16:25, with Matt Egan adding the insurance marker at 17:43.

Caleb Allen was in the Terrier net facing 38 shots in the loss while Kenneth Marquart took the win in the Bombers cage facing 34 shots.

Saturday the Terriers were in LaRonge where Dalton Mayes gave Yorkton a 1-0 lead 5:43 into the contest.

A goal by Thomas Wright tied the contest for the Icewolves at 11:47.

But, the Terriers would hold the edge through one period as Tyson Perkins scored with only 13 seconds left in the frame.

The second was a scoreless affair, but the home team would tie things with the only goal of the third period, a

marker by Jacob Cossette at 6:20.

The game would go to overtime where Quintin Unreiner would be the hero of the night for the Terriers scoring the game-winner at the three-minute mark.

Caleb Allen took the win in the Terrier net facing 41 shots, while Topher Chirico took the loss after being peppered by 52-shots in the Icewolves net.

In spite of the loss in Flin Flon Terrier head coach Mat Hehr was satisfied with a road swing that included a delay in The Pas when the bus

broke down.

“We played really good. I’m really happy with our effort both games. I thought we played well enough to win both games,” he said.

“It was the most complete road trip of the season so far.”

Hehr said he felt the Terriers were close to scoring more often than they did which was encouraging too.

“There were some shots that should have been in,” he said, adding a good save, or missing an open net ultimately cost them in Flin Flon.

As for the bus break-

down, Hehr said it was unusual since it had been years since they had an issue, then the cold got them Tuesday headed to Nipawin and then a clutch issue on the way north.

But this time “the guys really used it as motivation,” said Hehr.

The Terriers now sport a 12-18 record and 24 points to hold second place in the Viterra Division, 15 points back of Estevan in first, and three points up on third place Weyburn, with Melville fourth with 20 points, one back of the Red Wings.

Ski education

The Yorkton CrossCountry Ski Club Youth Program is in full swing for the new season. On Saturdays they are offering a Teens and Tweens ski at 7 p.m., and a Jack Rabbit Program Sunday’s at 2 p.m.. The club is grateful for the City of Yorkton providing the use of their on-site trailer and insulated outhouse while Deer Park Clubhouse is being built. Overall, YCCSC has 30 youth enrolled and 7-10 parents participating with their children

Submitted Photos

Sask. Gov. Introduces Firearms Act

Submitted by Corrections, Policing and Public Safety

On Dec. 1 the government introduced The Saskatchewan Firearms Act to protect the rights of lawful firearms owners.

“This Act will help address concerns of responsible firearms owners and enhance public safety across Saskatchewan,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said. “We take public safety seriously and support initiatives that reduce the criminal use of firearms, while preventing gang violence and stopping illegal guns from entering our province.”

The Act will:

With respect to recent changes by the federal government that impact lawful firearms owners: • establish licensing requirements for businesses or individuals involved in firearms expropriation; • require and oversee fair compensation for any firearms being seized; and require forensic and

ballistic testing of seized firearms.

• establish a provincial firearms regulatory system that will promote the safe and responsible use of firearms.

This legislation will be primarily administered by the Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO). The Office will also take on an expanded role in prosecuting non-violent regulatory firearms offenses.

“Since inception, the Saskatchewan Firearms Office has successfully handled public safety files and continues to work closely with police to ensure that gun safety laws are properly enforced,” Chief Firearms Officer Robert Freberg said. “The enhanced mandate this legislation provides will expand our office’s ability to promote responsible firearms use and improve community safety.”

The government has dedicated approximately $3.2 million this fiscal year to begin development of several firearms

initiatives, including:

• establishing a Saskatchewan Firearms Ballistics Lab to support police services and provide timely access to Saskatchewan-based ballistics and firearms expertise;

• establishing a Firearms Compensation Committee to determine the fair market value of any firearms, ammunition and related accessories being expropriated by the federal government;

• enhancing training and education regarding safe storage and firearms licensing; and,

• launching a made-inSaskatchewan marketing campaign to promote firearm safety and best practices.

Additional firearms officers are being employed with the SFO in a continued effort to support the law-abiding firearms community, while also investigating incidents associated with mental health, domestic violence and illegal activities involving firearms.

Photos courtesy Twylla Newton

NDP, Sask. Party could both broaden their base

MURRAY MANDRYK

Mandryk is a political columnist with the Leader Post

Politics

While political parties claim they govern for everyone in the province, that’s not what today’s politics is about.

Maybe it’s never been what politics is about.

Politics has always catered to those who support your party. That means taking policy suggestions and ideas form the people most likely to vote for you.

When you are in government, you reward them with policies to their liking … and sometimes even patronage jobs. While in opposition, you reward them with hope of the above.

It’s this focus on those you are courting at the expense of the concerns and issues of others that pretty much summed up the problems both the NDP and the Saskatchewan Party had during the fall sitting.

It could have been a great fall for either. But neither really quite capitalized — largely because they both made errors they shouldn’t have because both spent far too much time catering to their base instead of focusing on doing the right thing.

Let us begin with the Sask. Party who should have had a great sitting. After all, we saw the 2022-23 budget at mid-year turn into a $1.1-billion surplus from the $263-deficit presented in March.

This is a government that could afford to hand out $500 cheques to every adult and pretty much blame every problem in the province on the federal Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

It made for easy politics, but — in no small irony — is also why the government often found itself in trouble this fall.

Consider the decision to invited convicted murderer Colin Thatcher to the legislature or not order Legacy Christian School to remove textbooks that teach their students that the Loch Ness monster is proof dinosaurs lived with man. These appear to be decisions driven by personal connections this government and its members have made with certain people and lobby groups.

Both were cases of horrifically bad judgement, yet the government initially defended them.

When you have a one-track approach to politics and governance, this is what happens.

Also consider Agriculture Minster David Marit’s response when the NDP asked his government to look into why consumers are paying such high beef prices at the store while ranchers are getting very little for their cattle.

The carbon tax is clearly a factor, but, contrary to the agriculture minister’s assertion, it’s not the only one. Surely, Marit gets we are at the mercy of a few out-of-province packing plants. Even the Sask. Party government’s legislative highlighted by the costly change to set up is its own income tax collection department, policing initiatives that may duplicate the work of already-underfunded RCMP and especially the Saskatchewan First Act that may not do much of anything illustrate how political considerations seem to be trumping more practical ones.

But this might have an even bigger problem this fall sitting for Opposition leader Carla Beck and the NDP who clearly don’t have nearly as big a base in which to cater.

The NDP’s dithering on the Saskatchewan First Act that the Opposition rightly criticize as being inconsequential yet felt compelled to vote in favour of it on second reading was a case in point.

This NDP were trying to appease forces within its own support base while attempting to build a coalition to oppose Moe.

Given the latest Angus Reid poll showing Moe with a 56-per-cent approval rating — the second best among premiers — that seems unlikely.

And it’s even less likely Beck and the NDP continue to be reluctant to wholeheartedly criticize the federal government — one now propped up by federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.

This, too, seems to be a case of worrying too much about what your own supporters think and not doing the right thing for the people of Saskatchewan.

That was a common theme this fall.

Murray Mandryk has been covering provincial politics since 1983.

Remember what season is about

Somehow the season that is upon us seems to have lost some of the lustre that it once had.

It’s not that there is less tinsel for the trees or less twinkly lights for the yard, it is more about the change in attitude of our world.

Christmas has somehow managed to leach its way into October, stores stocking red stockings to hang right next to the Frankenstein masks.

Now some rejoice at the extension of the season, but the wonderment of December just seems somehow tarnished by the rush to be the first to turn on the snowman blow-ups.

And as December arrives the world becomes something of a mad house. We all seem pushed hither and yon in everything we do, from extra hours at work to just dealing with life in an era where we must respond to a text from someone every 15-minutes. At times one wonders how they can ever find the time to watch the next Hallmark movie on TV, or bake sugar cookies, or decorate a gingerbread house.

Frankly, there seems increasingly to be at least some evidence these days that the Grinch might have been driven to grouchiness by the 21st century Christmas season.

And that is of course, if you celebrate Christmas – not all do, and of course social media blows-up with that old debate about the greeting

Merry Christmas over Happy Holidays.

Amid all the bustle of the season we probably should just smile and be happy when someone pauses long enough to wish us well regardless of the exact words we use.

The very act of wishing others well is also that first little flickering candle of what the season should be.

This is a time of fellowship and family and pausing to wish upon a star that all will be well with our world one day.

Of course it never is, as the people of Ukraine can attest to this year as they fight for their country against the invading Russian forces, something that is far too close to home for many in the local area.

Closer to home we also know people face struggles too, or there would not be the need for the Bruno’s Place shelter opened this year, or the growing need for Christmas hampers through the Salvation Army.

Maybe that is our opportunity to recapture the true meaning of the season, the chance to help others, people we don’t even know to have just a bit merrier and happy season as they sit down to dinner on the 25th with food from the hampers.

That donation should help create smiles for the season including your own as you recapture the season of old.

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Happy Wordy Wednesday! ‘Goblin mode’ has been chosen

word of the year for 2022. According to

University Press (OUP), publishers behind the Oxford English Dictionary, the

term refers to a type of behavior which is “unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.” Piles of junk food, toys or even library books all over the place, and an overall attitude of not caring what anyone thinks of you - traits may have become familiar to many during the pandemic lockdown. Goblin mode first appeared on Twitter in 2009, according to Oxford, but has grown in prominence over the last year or so. Don’t be in your goblin mode for too long, come to Yorkton Public Library to check out our new VOX (reading-along) books. Children love them!

All of Yorkton This Week’s content is protected by Canadian Copyright laws. Reviews and similar mention of material in this newspaper is granted on the provision that Yorkton This Week receives credit. Otherwise, any reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Advertisers purchase space and circulation only. Rights to any advertisement produced by Yorkton This Week, including art work, typography, photos, etc., remain the property of this newspaper. Advertisements or parts thereof may not be reproduced or assigned without the consent of the publisher. Visit Yorkton This

Murray

Welcome to ‘Wordy Wednesday’ brought to you by our friends at Yorkton Public Library, (including Slo the friendly sloth), and appearing here courtesy of Yorkton This Week.

as Oxford

Oxford

slang

USask research investigates new treatments for drug-induced neuropathy in cancer patients

SASKATOON –Chemotherapy can be a saving grace when facing cancer. When drug-induced neuropathy results from anti-cancer drugs like Cisplatin (CP), a common drug for breast cancers, a way to combat these unwanted side effects is critical for patients to maintain optimal treatment.

Dr. Anand Krishnan (PhD), assistant professor in the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), was awarded $120,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute for Cancer Research and from the

Cancer Research Foundation to find potential therapies for peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer. This painful complication affects 70-100 per cent of patients undergoing Cisplatin treatment.

Several classes of chemotherapy drugs can induce peripheral neuropathy, resulting in severe pain, numbness, a lack of spatial awareness and movement defects. In these cases, either reducing the dose or stopping the causative treatment altogether are the mainstay options for relief.

With no effective treatment for these negative side effects,

Krishnan and his collaborators will take a closer look at nerve tissue to understand what is causing this neuropathy at the molecular level.

“Despite decades of research in this field, no effective therapies are available for tackling this debilitating complication from chemotherapy drugs,” said Krishnan. “By looking at the nerve-tumour interface and identifying specific targets to test candidate drug treatments, we are one step closer to identifying clinical therapies for patients.”

Krishnan’s team hopes to

find the underlying molecular changes that facilitate neuropathy development. When identified, these molecular targets will allow the team to test potential drug or drug combination treatments.

This research is an extension of Krishnan’s larger focus exploring the nerve-tumour interface in treatment-resistant breast and prostate cancer. Peripheral nerves are part of the tumour microenvironment and can promote cancer growth. By examining the molecules released from nerves and their signalling cascades in detail, it may reveal new

pathways for potential targeted interventions.

With a background in cancer biology and peripheral nerve disorders, Krishnan is working with many collaborators including neuroscientists, clinician scientists, and students, to ensure this fundamental work is also translational to a clinical setting.

“I’d like to thank my collaborators and funders for their support in this emerging area of research that promises to offer new therapies for treatment-resistant cancers. It really makes future translation of this work possible.”

Yorkton Superstore wins 2022 SARC Inclusive Advantage Award

The SARC Awards honor diversity and inclusion in the disability service sector.

The Inclusive Advantage Award celebrates employers in Saskatchewan communities who recognize the advantages of hiring people experiencing disability and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive workforce. This year’s provincial recipient is Yorkton Superstore!

From the very beginning, Superstore made it clear that they are an inclusive workplace and their employees are part of the ‘Superstore Family’.

Management at Superstore in Yorkton are committed to working with community-based organizations in Yorkton

to reduce barriers to employment and help new employees feel welcomed and comfortable while working in a busy and fast-paced environment. Understanding that a barrier to employment might be different for each person that comes through their door, the management team and staff at Yorkton Superstore has worked hard to implement accommodations for the individual rather than asking the individual to make accommodations for the organization. That’s true inclusivity! Staff from SaskAbilities Partners in Employment visited Superstore to present them with their very well deserved Inclusive Advantage Award! — Submitted

SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories celebrates 50 years

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) Geoanalytical Laboratories is celebrating its 50th anniversary of providing high quality analysis to the exploration and mining industry.

The lab started in 1973 as an internal service for the geologists working at SRC and over the years evolved into a worldclass laboratory serving

Mining and Minerals Division, which provided the Geoanalytical Laboratory with more space to improve sample flow and reduce the turnaround time for clients. Also, that year, SRC took on TSL Laboratories’ clients and assets after its owner’s retired, which expanded the lab’s capacity for gold and pre-

cious metal fire assay.

To round out the recent changes, the lab added a mineral characterization service, which provides mining and exploration clients the ability to test their ores’ amenability to sorting and choose the appropriate type of equipment or sensor for sorting - a service unique to SRC.

The lab currently provides chemical analysis for exploration and mining companies, as well as other services, such as mineral identification and mineralogical services.

“SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories is continually expanding its facilities to match the growth and changes in the

exploration and mining industry sectors and to meet the needs of our clients,” SRC President and CEO Mike Crabtree said. “With an eye on new technologies and our finger on the pulse of industry, it’ll be exciting to see what the lab can achieve in the coming decades.”

SRC is Canada’s

second largest research and technology organization. With over 300 employees, $277 million in annual revenue and 75 years of experience, SRC provides services and products to its 1,400 clients in 23 countries around the world.

For more information on SRC, go to www.src. sk.ca.

Measuring the big bucks

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

The Yorkton Wildlife Federation held their Big Buck Antler Measuring Night at the Yorkton Gun Club on the evening of Dec. 8.

“We keep records of all the different animals – mule deer, white tail, elk, moose, bear – we do fish as well as waterfowl,” said Laura Uhryn, President of the Yorkton Wildlife Federation, in an

interview with Yorkton This Week.

This year’s event had 50 submissions at the time of writing which included 40 in-person submissions for the event.

“At one point the place was packed,” said Uhryn.

“Every year -- for all of the different categories -- there is an award winner,” said Uhryn, adding, “The seasons haven’t closed yet so there’s still guys hunting – we’ve got to get stuff calculated … it’s going to be a

little bit before we have who the winners are.”

In previous years the organization has held an awards banquet and fundraiser, but those events were put on hold due to restrictions put in place for COVID-19.

“We’re thinking of maybe doing an awards barbecue out at the clubhouse at York Lake –we just haven’t hammered out the details on just exactly what we’re going to do this year.”

Regardless, Uhryn said the

Big Buck Antler Measuring night was a success.

“It was great to see people we haven’t seen in a couple of years -- lots of new faces -- which was fantastic – lots of younger people buying memberships and getting involved with the organization.”

For people wishing to join the Yorkton Wildlife Federation, memberships are available for purchase through the Sask. Wildlife Federation’s website, through

Yorkton Wildlife Federation’s Facebook page, or at the hunting sports desk at Canadian Tire.

“A big thank you to all of our board members and volunteers that came out for the evening to help,” said Uhryn, adding, “Thanks to every one who attended and brought their antlers in or came out to see what was harvested this year and good luck to everybody for the next hunting season when it comes around.”

Some Saskatchewan highlights from the 2021 census

By Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (Humboldt Journal)

The 2021 Census has now been completed and many people may be left thinking how have things changed in Saskatchewan since the

last census.

Statistics Canada has provided a fact sheet specific to Saskatchewan and a few highlights may pique your interest.

Highlights on education included that 25.8 per cent of the population aged 25 to 64 had a bachelor’s degree or

higher. Within the 25 to 64 age category the top field of study was business, management and public administration. Interestingly enough of the population aged 15 –19, 80.7 per cent attended school, meaning 19.3 per

lights, 312,775 did not work, which is 35.4 per cent. Of those that worked, 35.6 per cent, 313,995 did so full time, while another 29 per cent worked part time. Of the entire workforce in Saskatchewan, 18.4 per cent worked from home. The top three industries reported was healthcare and social assistance,

retail trade, and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. The top three reported occupations were sales & service, trades, transport and equipment operators and business, finance administration.

Only 2.1 per cent used another language other than English at work. Commuting to work has

become quite common in Saskatchewan and the average commute to work is 18.1 minutes. If you were fortunate enough to use a sustainable mode of transportation, you were part of the 7.7 per cent of the population. 84.6 per cent drove as their main mode of commuting, compared to 83.2 per cent in 2016.

Yorkton receives $336K for policing initiatives

The Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety is providing $336,000 to the City of Yorkton through the Municipal Police Grants program in 2022-23. This grant will fund three existing police positions in the community.

“The Government of Saskatchewan continues to invest in police services throughout the province,” Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit said on behalf of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell. “This investment will strengthen our community and help to keep the citizens of Yorkton and the surrounding area safe.”

The Municipal Police Grants program supports enhanced community policing throughout the city and works to ensure a safer community.

The funding for Yorkton supports the continued delivery of targeted policing initiatives, such as the Police and Crisis Team (PACT), which comprises police

officers and mental health workers who provide an integrated and coordinated response to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in the community.

“The City of Yorkton appreciates the annual provincial funding of the Municipal Police Grant,” Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley said. “The RCMP represents the pinnacle of safety in our fine city and is always playing a very active role in both our school systems and on the streets. Every community is in need of safety and becoming even more so. Our excellent policing services are a BIG part of Yorkton’s attraction for both new citizens and businesses.”

Since 1998, the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety has provided funds to police services across Saskatchewan through the Municipal Police Grants program. The program currently supports 141 municipal police positions and targeted policing initiatives.

Pictured here, Ryan Decker, with the antlers of a moose he harvested in Zone 56.

Over 40 submissions were on display at the Yorkton Gun Club for the Yorkton Wildlife Federation’s Big Buck Antler Measuring Night.

Photos Courtesy of Laura Uhryn

The gift search

Local cadet teaches others

Story by by: Captain Lisa Long, Unit Public Affairs Representative, Regional Cadet Support Unity (Northwest).

The cadets, of 2834 64th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, were creating lanyards to wear on their

uniforms. Lanyards were originally used to secure fuse keys that were carried by every member of a gun battery in the artillery. Each cadet is taught to braid their own lanyard which teaches them not only the skill of tying knots but is a hands-on connection to the history

of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery.

“My experience on tying knots and building a lanyard came from attending the 12-day long Cadet Activity Program this past summer. It feels good to be able to share what I learned with the newer cadets,” McInnes

said.

“She (McInnes) is a really great teacher, and I am happy with the lanyard I made,” Erhaze said.

McInnes joined cadets in 2021 because she has seen her father, the Commanding Officer of the Corps, Captain Colin

McInnes, going to cadets and wanted to follow in his footsteps. After having fun this past summer at the Cadet Activity Program, she hopes to attend a Cadet Training Centre this summer for three weeks to learn more about marksmanship.

“I really enjoy orienteering (at cadets) so far. It’s the challenge of finding markers in a wooded area with just a map and compass…I’ve made so many new friends in such a short time at cadets,” said McInnes.

Erhaze joined cadets earlier this year to make new friends and to learn something new. In the first few weeks he has learned about the history of the cadet programme, how to safely use an air rifle, and some foot drill.

These are just some of the things youth can learn and do in the Canadian

Cadet Program. The Canadian Cadet Program is a fun and active, peerled program that gives youth the opportunity to meet new people, make life-long friends, travel and try new things. Army Cadets focus on physical activity and the outdoors.

Adults are also needed to help train, administer, and supervise the local youth involved in the Cadet Program.

Becoming part of the Cadet Program is easier than you may think, it’s a lot of fun, and the skills you learn are likely transferable to your regular employment. No previous military or cadet experience is needed.

To get in the fun and the learning at army cadets in Yorkton, call 306-262-5227 or email 2834army@cadets.gc.ca.

For air cadets in Yorkton, call 306-621-9363 or email 17air@cadets.gc.ca.

Staff Photos by Calvin Daniels

Columbia School hosted a craft and trade show Saturday attracting people seeking seasonal decorations perfect gifts and tasty treats. The event was

organized by SLC members at the school. Proceeds were targeted at the Experience Canada Student Exchange.

Bombardier Renee McInnes (left) instructs Cadet Enoch Erhaze (right) on tying a lanyard in Yorkton, Sask., on November 21, 2022.

Photo by: Master Warrant Officer Conner Anderson, 2834 64th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps

Sp orts

Pool tourney held Saturday in city

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

Yorkton was host to a pool tournament for the first time in some time on the weekend.

On Saturday the Yorkton Pool League hosted a single 8 ball tournament. Games started before lunch after players registered and shot a few games to warm up.

Eight players played in the double knockout event, with matches being a best-of-five. Most of the players were members of Yorkton Pool League Wednesday night league.

All of the players involved were skilled pool players, and Scott Sharpe, one of organizers said he was not sure there was a clear favourite at the beginning of the event, but Dale

Gelowitz and Perry Cote had played previously in tournaments around the province.

Cote was eventually knocked down to the ‘B’ side in the second round but came back to play against Gelowitz, the A side winner.

“There were a ton of great games to watch but the games between Dale and Perry were very exciting and it was great

to watch two skilled pool players in the finale,” said Sharpe.

In the end, Cote came out on top and took first place, with Gelowitz coming in second, and Bruce Nielsen completing the top-three.

The Yorkton Pool League also wants to thank everyone that played or came out to watch, said Sharpe. A special thank you to Marty Derbowka

and The CI for hosting and sponsoring a part of the prize pool.

“We look forward to the next tournament,” said Sharpe.

The Yorkton Pool League has weekly pool and are always looking for new players if you’re interested please contact at yorktonpool@gmail. com or text or call Sharpe at 306-621-6785.

Commissioner talks CEBL change

It’s off season for the Canadian Elite Basketball League, but the league has managed to stay in the sports spotlight in Canada with something of a roller coaster of franchise moves.

The first big news saw the franchise in Guelph moved west to Calgary under new private ownership becoming the Surge.

Next the league announced an expansion franchise for Winnipeg, although details of who will own the team, what it will be called, and other details are still unknown

to the public.

And finally the operations of the Newfoundland Growlers, the only CEBL franchise in the Maritimes had its operations suspended.

“It’s been managing the business, really kind of strategically,” offered CEBL Commissioner Mike Morreale in a recent interview with Yorkton This Week.

Morreale said as Commissioner of course he looks at the various moves differently than what fans might, adding he appreciate fans in Guelph and Newfoundland are

obviously disappointed.

But, the changes made sense for the greater good of the CEBL, players and fans alike, suggested Morreale.

In Guelph it was “a small market for us,” he said, adding it was a mar-

CALVIN DANIELS Sports

ket with what he termed “capped opportunities.”

By contrast Morreale noted Calgary “is a huge city, a very diverse city,” that offers the CEBL greater opportunities.

The move also helped solidify the league in the

west.

“It made sense to do it. . . From a Calgary perspective it was a home run,” said Morreale.

In terms of Western Canada, the Winnipeg franchise really connects the country which Morreale is important.

“We haven’t been shy in saying we wanted to get into Winnipeg,” he said. “. . . It’s a tremendous market.”

The Winnipeg franchise will be known as the Sea Bears and will play home games at the Canada Life Centre. The franchise is owned by Winnipeg businessman

and lawyer David Asper. It’s likely the nickname will not be liked by many, but at least there is an interesting background to it as explained in a recent CEBL release.

“The Sea Bears nickname was chosen in honour of the largest bear in the world, the polar bear whose Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means “Sea Bear”. The Arctic’s top predator is emblematic of Manitoba’s north and pays homage to the bear as a species under stress that shares the land in the north with the Dene people.

Perry Cote, left receives first place honours from Theron Smith.

Dale Gelowitz, left gets second place award from Theron Smith.

Theron Smith, left presents third place to Bruce Nielsen.

Kaleidoscope ART

Jackie Guy heading to

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

When Telemiracle takes to the stage again in the new year Yorkton’s Jackie Guy will be among the performers.

“This is my first time performing on Telemiracle,” she told Yorkton This Week.

Guy said being part of the annual fundraiser was something she wanted to do because she recognized the good things the money provides.

“As a physiotherapist I have seen first hand the needs of people that come through the hospitals, the schools and the communities,” she said. “Helping to raise money to support those in need and provide a little freedom for those with disabilities is important to me.”

Those needs hit closer to home for Guy too.

“Growing up with an older sister with special needs, I was able to see first hand the limitations placed on families that don’t have the financial resources to attend places for therapy and medical treatments,” she said. “Not only is it difficult to go places but purchasing home equipment also becomes another family burden.”

Telemiracle

Guy said she also recognizes how iconic the telethon is in Saskatchewan.

“It will be an honour to be part of the annual Telemiracle

event, because as kids we would stay up until the early hours watching all the wonderful Saskatchewan talent on television,” she said.

“As a youngster I

looked up to those artists and wanted to be just like them -- singing and raising money for such a great cause.”

Guy said she expects to perform at least one

number but will be prepared for more.

“We have decided to perform our most recent original called ‘In A Summer’, because it’s upbeat and they want us

to keep the crowd rocking,” she said.

Anyone wanting to help with the fundraising effort, can contact Guy or local Kinsmen and Kinettes.

Photo shoots support local BGC

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

It

Jackie

told Santa their seasonal wishes.

Santa said the requests were quite varied this year including a chainsaw, rock collection, ramen, and his favourite a red towel.

Through the project $5300 was raised for the Boys and Girls Club.

Jackie also gives a huge shout to her volunteer helpers, Kondratoff Persick LLP, the Gallagher Center and of course Santa Claus.

turned out Santa Claus for the Boys and Girls Club of Yorkton was actually a local photographer.

Herman of Simple Shots by Jackie held a fundraiser where she had 300 sessions booked taking photographs of more than 500 smiling faces from all over the province and Manitoba as they

Kamdyn and Keegan Karcha visit with Santa.

Jackie Guy and her band are going to perform at Telemiracle in 2023.

Submitted Photo

Submitted Photo

WAGNER: It was an unusually warm November 17 that Marlyn was born at her family home on James Avenue in Yorkton. The doctor and nurse, in attendance, declared her premature, and not likely to survive. Her mother proved them wrong and made sure she did live. Her siblings, Dorothy, Georgina and Bob were pleased with the addition. Her parents Theodore and Julia (Wrishko) Starr spent a few years in Yorkton before moving to Margo, Saskatchewan. Returning to Yorkton, Marlyn attended Simpson School then graduated grade 12 from the Yorkton Collegiate Institute. At the urging of their high school principal, Marlyn and two classmates boarded the train to Winnipeg. Here she enrolled and earned a 3 year diploma in nursing from the Winnipeg General Hospital in 1957. Mom talked about long work days and a few weekends off. Lifelong friends were made. She returned to Winnipeg every 5 years to attend their annual class reunions. She was an Alumni member and just read her newsletter last week. She was offered a job at the Winnipeg General, however her mother wanted her close to home and she started her nursing career in Canora Saskatchewan instead. She joined a group of other new nursing graduates and transitioned from a big city hospital to rural Saskatchewan. She lived in residence and along the way met a salesman named Dennis Wagner. This resulted in marriage on May 2, 1959 at St. Gerard’s Church. They rented an apartment and Marlyn resumed nursing at the Yorkton Airport Auxiliary Hospital, a 50 bed medical facility. She transferred to the new Yorkton Hospital and worked on the Obstetrical Ward. She especially loved working the nursery full of newborns! After the birth of Kevin, they bought a new home on Barbour Avenue, and lived there for almost 60 years. Gardening and fruit trees kept mom busy. Then Greg and Grant were added to the family. A husband on the road and 3 young children made working difficult. Mom went to her Director of Nursing to tender her resignation. Kay Wood, the Director of Nursing, urged her to not quit, but take a new “temporary” day position in the Emergency Room. This “temporary” job turned into 30 plus years. Long time friendships were forged that remain today. Mom loved nursing and providing care. Finally getting a driver’s license in her thirties gave her much more independence. Marlyn and Dennis enjoyed travel. There were many trips over the years to Hawaii, Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean. They also enjoyed Australian and European tours. Later in life they became regulars on the Casino bus trips to the United States and Winnipeg. Often these trips were with their close-knit group of friends. Many years of camping in a trailer led to having a cottage at Good Spirit. Boating, fishing and snowmobiling were enjoyed, as well as golf and aquacise. Marlyn hosted many family gatherings, most all birthdays included her poppyseed chiffon cakes! Failing health of chronic vertigo and loss of mobility ultimately forced mom to go to the care home in Canora for a few months, before admission to Country Meadows at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home. This was the same facility that both her parents resided in, and that she spent many hours caring for them before they passed. She enjoyed reading, TV, playing bingo and going on an occasional trip to Madge Lake and Good Spirit Lake while in the care home. Covid took its toll on all the residents. Family and friends locked out. Isolated in rooms for weeks. Thankfully they were able to resume visits and outings. The activity department was a source of diversion and enjoyment. A weekly hairstyle was valued too. Our thanks to those individual caregivers at Y.D.N.H. who enjoyed their work and made a positive impact on mom’s life the last 4 years. A casual conversation and compassionate caregiving were so appreciated by her! Mom continued to be supported by her retired ER workmates by visits, phone calls and monthly birthday lunches. On November 17 these cherished friends gathered to celebrate what would be her last birthday. Marlyn was predeceased by her parents Theodore and Julia. Husband Dennis in 2020. Sister and Brother-in-Law Dorothy and Oscar Gellert. Sister and Brother-in-law Georgina and Alfie Achtymichuk. Brother and sister-in-law Bob and Doreen Starr. Sister-in-law Geraldine Wagner, brother-in-law Garry Wagner. Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law Gerry and Iris Torgunrud. Left to celebrate her life are son Kevin (Kim) Wagner. Grandson Gage; Granddaughter Tara; Great grandchildren Derek, Cortnee, Alexia and Dominic. Sons Greg and Grant. Brotherin-law Morley (Carol) Wagner. Sister-in-law Moira Wagner. Several nieces and nephews whose visits, phone calls, iPad pictures, and love were so very much appreciated. “Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.”

-Emily Dickinson

A funeral service for Marlyn will be held at a later date

KRIGER: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Violet Elsie Kriger (Litke) in the early hours of December 2, 2022 at the age of 91. Mom was born to Gottlieb and Wanda Litke on September 5, 1931 in New Sarepta, Alberta. In April 1947, at a tender young age, she met the love of her life, Gary Kriger.They were married on January 9, 1948.This union was blessed with five children, 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grands, one great-great grandchild and another baby due in February. Mom helped Dad with the farming chores, harvest, grew a huge garden and did an amazing job of raising their five children. From the farm Gary and Vi moved to Preeceville when Dad spread his wings and went into the John Deere business. After moving to Yorkton, living there a few years, they went to The Bentley in 2017. In September 2021, due to Mom needing more care, they moved to The Gladstone Seniors Residence where they resided till Dad’s passing in January and Mom’s recent passing. Vi was preceded by her husband Gary, her daughter Margaret Kriger, grandson Keith Kriger, parents Gottlieb and Wanda Litke, two brothers Hugo and Adolf Litke, three brothers in infancy, sister Irma Bowles, brother-in-law Laurence Granger, sister-in-law Iris Litke. Leaving to cherish her memories are her sister Margaret Granger; brother-in-law Doug Bowles; daughter Shirley (Richard) Florek, Velva Kershaw, Hannah (Jeremy) Johnson (Myla); Kristopher Kershaw (Andrew, Matthew, Kristopher); Michael (Kristi) Kershaw (Karson); Margaret’s sons, Darren (Maria) Folkersen (Quinn, Victor, Pearl), Robert (Ashlee) Folkersen (William, Ava), Dale Folkersen (Jaedyn, Maggie (Jesse); son Allen (Donna) Kriger, Shawna (Darcy) Kriger Kemp, (Shayna (Travis), Brett (Danika), Brittney); Kevin (Jill) Kriger (Journey, Deacon); son Dennis (Noreen) Kriger, (Lucas (Nora) Kriger (Morgan, Courtney, Chealsey); Tim (Samantha) Kriger (Tristen); Stephanie Kriger Bazley (Levi, Landon, Elise) , Lindsay (Michael) Johnson (Dennis, Colton, Raelean); son Walden (Donna) Kriger, (Rebecca (Shawn) Prier (Noah), Sarah Kriger (Bowan). A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 2:00 pm from Christies Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK with interment at Yorkton City Cemetery with Pastor Steve Rosluk officiating. Organist was Ruth McPhee, special music by Dennis and Noreen Kriger, eulogist was their daughter Shirley Florek. Urn Bearer was their son Allen Kriger, and Honourary Urn Bearers included Violet’s Grandchildren, Great – Grandchildren and Great-Great Grandchild. A time of fellowship and lunch was held in the Reception Room at Christies Funeral Home, following the service. Memorial donations in honour of Violet, can be made to Gideons International.

HAHN: Jack Ludwig Hahn was born on October 26, 1943 to Ludwig and Mary (nee Niebergall) Hahn. Jack was one of five children born in Broadview, SK and attended school at Neelby, SK. When he left school he worked for a local farmer. He later worked at Coop implements in both Kipling and Grenfell, finishing off his working career employed by the town of Grenfell. In his younger years he loved to fish, hunt and snowmobile. In more recent years he spent many hours playing wha-hoo (the marble game) or cards, rummy being a favourite. Jack’s love of music and dancing led him to the singles dances where he met Doreen Speidel. They were married August 15, 1998. It was then that he inherited an instant family. Jack was noted to be a great cook, notorious for his sauerkraut and rice as well as home baked pies. After Doreen’s passing, Jack met another love in his life, Marie. They were great companions for each other always going for drives, enjoying visiting family and friends, old time music and dancing and attending many a Friday night dance in Yorkton. He also requested his favourite old time songs on the Saturday night get together. Jack was a great uncle, step-dad, grandpa and great grandpa. He spent so many hours visiting family and friends over a coffee at McDonald’s, his favourite coffee place. Jack was predeceased by his parents Ludwig and Mary Hahn, his wife Doreen Speidel-Hahn, brother Gary, brother-in-law John and great nephew Zach. Jack leaves to mourn his passing his special friend Marie, his stepchildren Janilyn (Mike) Solonenko and their children Nicole (Brandon) Ludwar, Kamden and Kade; Brittany Solonenko (Phil Adams) Nate and Luke; Joanne (Jim) Blahut; Coreen (David) Langley and their children Chellan and Brent; Charlene (Ed) Zapshalla; Neil Speidel (Nicole Bot) and children Bailey Speidel (Nick), Logan Speidel (Jasmine), Jessica and Austin Bot. Brothers Walter (Elaine) Hahn; Richard (Marie) Hahn; sister Betty; sister-in-law Carol and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and nieghbours. A Funeral Service was held on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 2:00 pm from Christies Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK with Shelly Morris officiating. Eulogists were Joanne Speidel-Blahut & Janilyn Solonenko and pallbearers were Neil Speidel, Mike Solonenko, Jim Blahut, David Langley, Ed Zapshalla and Don Niebergall. A time of fellowship and refreshment followed in Christie’s Reception Room after the interment at Yorkton City Cemetery, Yorkton, SK. Memorial donations may be made in Jack’s memory to Telemiracle or the SPCA.

SCHUSTER - It is with solemn hearts that we announce the passing of Marie Christine Schuster (Ford). She passed away on November 23, 2022 at 87 years of age. Marie was born in Saltcoats on September 6, 1935 to Robert Lawrence Ford and Ellen Boyd Ford (Morton). She was one of four siblings. Marie attended school near Saltcoats before working as a nursing aid until her marriage to Nicholaus Schuster on May 18, 1954, when she became a farm wife and mother. Nicholaus and Marie spent 67 wonderful years together and had two children, Lauri and Donna (Leslie). Marie was a devoted homemaker and helped out much on the farm, where they resided until they moved to Yorkton in 2001. Marie will be remembered by her family for her generous soul and loving spirit. During her time on the farm she loved to cook, bake, knit, sing, and sew. In her later years, she loved to spend time with her family and especially her grandchildren. She loved to entertain company, which she did avidly with her quick wit and wonderful sense of humour. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Marie and Nick were blessed with eight grandchildren: Shayne (Danielle), Christopher (Elizabeth), Erin (Jason), Robyn (Jeffery), Adam, Stevie, Taylor, and Joseph; and five great-grandchildren: Kaylee, Noah, Issac, Casey, and Cole. Marie is predeceased by her parents and her loving husband Nick, and is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The funeral service was held on Wednesday, December 7 2022 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Doreen Day, Certified Celebrant, officiating. Taylor Fulawka gave the eulogy. The interment followed in the Garden of St. Mark, followed by a memorial luncheon in the Family Centre. Condolences can be left at baileysfuneralhome.com.

MEDWID – Victoria Medwid, beloved wife of Pete Medwid of Yorkton passed away on December 5, 2022 at the age of 95 years. Victoria was born on April 14 1927 to John and Dora Lopaschuk (Kushernuik) on a farm in the Insinger district. She attended Mamornitz School completing the ninth grade. Growing up she and her other siblings helped with the farm. On June 1, 1944 she was united to Pete Medwid from Sheho, Saskatchewan. Together they farmed for twenty years and raised four beautiful daughters. In the spring of 1964 they sold the family farm and moved to Yorkton. Victoria gained employment in 1967 at the brand new Y.R.H.S. as a custodial person and was employed there until her retirement in 1987. After retirement Victoria travelled with her husband to many places, including Hawaii and Alaska. After Pete passed away in 2002 she remained in the home that dad built her until she was no longer able to handle the harder tasks. She lived independently in her apartment on Fietz Street until her health stated to decline. She lived for a year at the BENTLEY retirement home, then after suffering a serious fall moved to The Aspen Bluff Villas, a wonderful and caring place she called home until her passing. She loved spending time with all her family especially during holidays. She passed away peacefully in her sleep in her home, on the evening of Monday, December 5, with her family at her side. Victoria was predeceased by her husband Pete, daughters Adella and Patricia, grandson Scott Derbowka, son in law Frank Karapita, sisters Mary, Helen, and Rose, and brother Orest. She leaves to mourn in her passing her daughters, Annette (Vern) Schick of Theodore, Gwen (Bruce) Fiege of Yorkton; 8 grandchildren Lorrie (Kevin) Scott, Glen (Lauren) Karapita, Brent (Shelley) Derbowka, Clayton (Colleen) Derbowka, Jason (Colette) Schick, Jaime (Chris) Mikkonen, Meghan (Tyson) Lindgren, Morgan (Amber) Fiege; 15, great grandchildren: Sara Scott, Riley and Mackenzie Karapita, Rebecca Petruk, Brenden and Austin Derbowka, Mackenzie and Daylin Derbowka, Victoria and Jaqueline Derbowka, Jay and Cali Schick, Alexa, Jorja and Aubriana Mikkonen, Liam, Kaylum, and Beckum Fiege, Sloane and Cooper Lindgren and 3 great great grandchildren and many other friends and relatives. You will be forever in our hearts. Rest in Eternal Peace! The Funeral Service was held on Friday, December 9, 2022 at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre in Yorkton with Crystal Bailey, Certified Celebrant officiating. The interment took place in Yorkton City Cemetery with Brent & Clayton Derbowka and Jason Schick & Morgan Fiege serving as the casket bearers.

Kopan’s Funeral Service Highway #9 North, Yorkton, SK 306-783-0099 Toll-free 1-866-797-5084 www.kopans.ca

PRESS RELEASESHave a newsworthy item to announce? Having a Christmas/Winter Event? An exciting change in operations? Though we cannot guarantee publication, MCNA will get the information into the right hands for ONLY $35.00 + GST/HST. Call MCNA (204) 9471691 for more information. See www.mcna. com under the “Types of Advertising” tab for more details.

TheCounciloftheMunicipalityofGilbertPlains,withthesupportofWayTo GoConsultingInc.,isseekinganindividualthatwillbringstrongleadership skillstothisposition. Informationonthepositionisavailableatgilbertplains.com Individualsinterestedinthispositionshouldsendaresumeandcoverletter byemailtoErnieEpp,WayToGoConsultingInc.,at ernie.epp@waytogoconsultinginc.ca. TheselectioncommitteeintendstoreviewapplicationsasearlyasJanuary 3,2023,however,applicationsmaycontinuetobeaccepteduntiltheright candidateisfound. 204-823-2267gilbertplains.com

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Christmas calls for songs of praise

On the night of Jesus’ birth, when the angels on high appeared to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night, perhaps they sang, rather than spoke their Glorias. And perhaps the mountains (in reply) really did echo their joyous strains, as we who love that Child born in the manger do, whenever we sing the carol Angels we have Heard on High.

The Bible doesn’t specifically say they sang, rather than simply declared, the phrase “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill to men,” but how could they not?

Music, often spontaneous, regularly accom-

panies worship.

On a recent trip, I attended a church where the worship music, very loud and mostly new to me, raised my own praise. So did an unexpected song on a Christmas special the Preacher and I watched recently. A glorious praise song, sung by a well-known music artist who sang as though he meant every word.

Sitting in a darkened theatre at a musical concert a few days ago, I unexpectedly found tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. Onstage, worldclass clarinetist James Campbell poured his breath into his instrument as his fingers

played the notes written by famous long-dead composers. That music had no words, but my heart responded with praise to the God who gave us music, and for the people who share it; who labour and strive for such excellence in their work.

If people refuse to praise God, scripture

says, nature will. Shelly and Ron Hamilton referred to that in one of their worship songs: “If we do not sing, then the rocks’ll cry out. If we do not praise, then the mountains will shout. The earth will shake; the trees will bow. We can’t be silent or the rocks’ll cry out.” Don’t you wonder what rock

praise would sound like? I suspect it would have no similarity to the genre we know as rock music.

Those angels on high, praising God? Centuries earlier, they had sung creation’s story. Now they proclaimed something beyond gargantuan. For all those years, the world had groaned in agony. Separated from God by sin, people longed for a Redeemer to bridge the gap. A Saviour. On the night of Christ’s birth the long wait ended. Messiah had arrived and now awaited the shepherd’s greeting. A babe robed in swaddling cloths and in need of diapering. God in the flesh, des-

perate for his mother’s milk.

Although it would take over thirty years to accomplish the fulness of Jesus’ mission, the road to Calvary’s cross had begun. But in those minutes over a darkened field, praise exploded the sky with rapturous sound and light. And while shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, the angels of the Lord came down, and glory shone around.

We may not see angels this Christmas, but we can remember them. We can believe. And through music we can worship and praise the Saviour they declared.

Winter solstice on Dec. 21

A week from today is the winter solstice. On Wednesday December 21, at approximately 3:48 PM, the solstice will occur, making Dec. 21 the time when we will have the shortest day of the year and the longest night.

What actually happens? At that time, the earth will be tilting so that the sun reaches the furthest south that it will all year. Folks living ‘down under’ will have the longest day and the shortest night of the year. But that means that our part of the world, the northern hemisphere, is tilting the farthest away from the sun that it will all year. That’s why we have the opposite: the

shortest day and the longest night.

We can look forward to the solstice on June 21, 2023, which will give us the longest day and the shortest night of the year. This will be the day when the sun hits the northernmost part of the globe.

But till that happens, we contend with winter, and even though we still have a lot of winter after December 21, we know that we are working towards spring.

The holiday season brings a bounty of beautiful plants for us to enjoy. Poinsettias are probably one of the first Christmas plants that come to mind. They come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Gardener’s points to remember: they like bright, indirect light, and they will not do well if they are overwatered. Cooler temperatures suit them just fine.

Amaryllis (hippeastrum) is such a fun plant! They often have a shoot emerging when we buy the bulb, and from that point it seems that they grown and change almost by the day. These beauties like full sun. Be sure to turn the container so that they aren’t stretching for the sun and remain straight. Water them when they feel dry. They don’t like wet feet. If you want a long and involved gardening conversation, ask gardeners if they should try to keep amaryllis bulbs from year to year, and how to do it! Everyone has success (and failure!) stories about the bulbs, and how to care for them to keep them. It is true that they

can be very long-lived. For some. But for gardeners who live in the moment, they will make a great pop of beauty in the next few weeks to brighten our winter days!

Winter bulb displays in the stores often include paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus). These delicate and very beautiful white flowers look very elegant on their tall stems, and they are easy to grow. They are interesting because they grow in pebbles in a dish. We must be diligent to be sure they have water, but this unique growing medium gives a very Zen quality to the plant, very pretty in the home. But…(doesn’t every unique plant have a ‘but’?)…paperwhite have a very strong fragrance that people wither love or loathe. It can be quite overwhelming, especially in the confines of a small room.

We always learn. I’ve read lately about a pretty holiday plant called “frosty fern” (selaginella kraussiana) that is really a kind of moss. Do you know it? The coloring of the tips of the leaves is why it has the name “frosty”, but it looks very festive in a container. They’re a fussy little plant, doing best with high humidity and low to medium light. But it might be a new gardening challenge for us, at least for this holiday season!

Find out what is happening with the hort society by visiting us at www. yorktonhort.ca

Thank you to our friends at YTW for their great work. Have a lovely week and stay warm!

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The Yorkton Lions Club recently made a $500 donation to the annual Salvation Army kettle campaign.

Here Lion President Todd Allan and member Andrew Sedley present

cheque. In addition, the Lions are staffing the Salvation Army Kettle for three days at the downtown liquor store.

New markets good but pressure food

When you write about agriculture the growing interest in canola as a biofuels source is a good news story.

Anything which expands a market for a crop is good for the producer of that crop, and on the Canadian Prairies and particularly in Saskatchewan, added demand for canola is going to be generally applauded.

The crop is already the major income generator on most farms, and with huge prices already in 2022 even the hint of adding demand has to have producers near giddy with expecta-

tion.

And in a world always hungry to consume energy, the biofuel sector is one that holds the promise of a renewable source of fuel that actually has less atmospheric impact when consumed.

Now big oil companies are no doubt less enamoured by biofuels, but realistically the biofuels sector will need to grow significantly before it really impacts fossil fuel profits.

So when you read a story suggesting canola demand by the biofuels’ sector is likely to grow, it seems like great news

indeed.

Agriculture THIS WEEK

Calvin Daniels

But, wrapped up in such news is a question that should at least be asked, and that is if we want to see increasing acres of farmland growing crops to feed cars instead of people?

The world hit eight billion occupants this

year, and that is by any measure a lot of mouths to feed.

At this point the world’s farmers have been up to the task.

Yes, there are people going hungry, and some facing starvation at times, but those are issues of wealth to buy

food, transportation problems to get food where it is needed, and politics and war. The food if it was distributed exists to feed people.

But, for how long?

There is a finite amount of arable land on which food can be grown, and it is under pressure by urban sprawl, desertification, salinization and other factors.

And that is without even admitting that crop production will be pressured moving forward by weather change.

Less land in production, or land impacted so it produces less,

and food production is impacted.

On the other side of the equation is population, and it continues to grow, and there aren’t even serious hints that the world is willing to discuss how that might be controlled.

The combo of pressure on farmland and population growth is not a good one.

So, is crop production for fuel, or anything which doesn’t ultimately feed people a good idea even if it is a market for farmers?

That is a question that the world will need to answer one day.

U.S. EPA finalizes recognition of canola’s GHG emissions reduction in advanced biofuels

December 1, 2022 –

Today, canola’s role in helping reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions took another step forward, with the final rule to create a pathway for canola oil to be used in advanced biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program in the United States.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delivered the final rule that canola oil-derived renewable diesel (RD), sustainable aviation fuel

(SAF) and other biofuels qualify as “advanced biofuels” under the RFS program. The EPA’s assessment confirmed that GHG emissions from RD, SAF and other fuels derived from canola oil far exceeded the 50 per cent reduction threshold when compared to fossilbased fuels.

“We thank the EPA for completing the final rule and are pleased to see that canola oil now has the pathway to help contribute to reducing GHG emissions from transportation fuels in the U.S.,”

says Jim Everson, Canola Council of Canada (CCC) president.

Canola’s low carbon advantages, largely due to the strong track record of sustainable production practices of growers, mean that canola-based biofuels offer significant-

ly lower lifecycle GHG emissions – by up to 90 per cent compared to fossil diesel.

“This pathway positions canola to do more for the environment and our entire canola sector as it helps diversify markets and support value

added processing,” says Everson.

The CCC worked in coordination with the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association on a U.S. Canola Association petition to the EPA in 2020 to approve canola oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel, jet fuel and other biofuels. Renewable diesel and renewable jet fuel are chemically similar to petroleum and are increasingly used in existing vehicles and aircraft to help decarbonize the transportation sector.

The Canola Council of Canada is a full value chain organization representing canola growers, processors, life science companies and exporters. Keep it Coming 2025 is the strategic plan to ensure the canola industry’s continued growth, demand, stability and success – targeting 52 bushels per acre to meet global market demand of 26 million metric tonnes by the year 2025. For more information, visit canolacouncil.org or follow CCC on Twitter @canolacouncil.

Unlocking the secrets of the freezethaw cycle: USask research looks at cold spots and cold moments

SASKATOON – Hydrological research on the Prairies can be a challenge when the water is locked up in ice for almost half the year.

“Anyone who’s lived here through winter knows going out to do fieldwork in February is harder than July,” said Dr. Helen Baulch, associate professor with the School of Environment and Sustainability and Global Institute for Water Security, and Centennial Enhancement Chair at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

“There are well-documented reasons we haven’t done as much winter research. … There are safety issues, and it’s challenging to get your fingers to work!”

That said, there are important and fascinating understandings to unlock when it comes to the Prairies’ freezethaw cycles, which was the topic Baulch and colleagues tackled in their

research paper “Cold spots and cold moments: The potential for sediment freezing to depress denitrification in wetland sediments” published in The Journal of Environmental Quality.

“We know in the Prairies winters are variable and we know winters will grow shorter and warmer, so how does that impact key processes in the landscape?”

The paper focuses on “cold spots” and “cold moments,” places where beneficial processes that can occur naturally are not occurring, and times of the year they are not happening or happening at low rates, Baulch said.

“Basically, we’re understanding why we’re not obtaining all the benefits we might wish for from some of these processes,” she said.

In particular, the research looks at elevated levels of nitrogen, which can have a negative impact on the environ-

ment, and asks how wetlands can help us manage excess nitrogen.

Baulch’s hope is that these landscape-scale insights will someday be integrated into models and understanding these cycles could also help design constructed ecosystems.

“If you’re looking at designing urban wetlands, you might want to make them deep enough, so you don’t have freezethaw cycles at the bottom if those are going to impede key processes,” she said.

The work was led by former USask honours student Kimberly Gilmour.

“It’s unusual — but wonderful! — for an honours student to publish work,” Baulch said.

Gilmour has graduated since she did the research in 2015, but the work had a big impact on her future career decisions.

“The Global Institute for Water

Security and what they stand for has really informed my later work and influenced the type of companies I would apply for,” she said.

Today, Gilmour works as an environmental technician with NextGen Energy, and said she chose to work with the business because the company’s mission and values aligns with her own personal values — a lesson she learned doing this research through GIWS.

She grew up on a farm surrounded by wetlands, and while she appreciated them for their natural beauty, she never understood their true importance until she started studying their role in the ecosystem.

“Realizing how amazing wetlands are and what an important ecosystem service they provide for us was the most fascinating part of this, and how we can conserve and utilize them to improve downstream water quality,” she said.

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Winnipeg is home to the world’s largest gallery of Inuit and Dene art, and the polar bear is a symbol of the north and its people. Winnipeg is also home to the world’s largest polar bear conservation organization. The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg includes the world-renowned Journey to Churchill polar bear exhibit.”

It should also be noted in terms of change the Fraser Valley Bandits were purchased by local business leaders Kevin Dhaliwal and Bryan Slusarchuk and will be rebranded as the Vancouver Bandits.

The team will however continue to play at Langley Events Centre (LEC), where the Bandits played the 2022 season following three seasons in Abbotsford.

While not everyone

will be happy with how moves have transpired.

Morreale said the CEBL is better for what has occurred.

“It’s a much better league today than it was last year,” he said. “We’re much stronger geographically and financially.”

Certainly from the point of view of the Saskatchewan Rattlers the addition of two franchises which are both natural rivals in the making is a good move by the CEBL.

Adding two teams in the west does open the CEBL to move to more divisional play, building on rivalries, added Morreale.

In the case of the Growlers Morreale said the building just wasn’t workable long term, and the home that made sense was not available due to other contracts.

So could the Growlers

return?

Morreale said it’s not impossible, but added they would likely look to add at least one other east coast team at the same time (Moncton –Halifax) to make sense travel wise.

“I would suggest that would be the preference,” he said.

That would also fit with a general plan to still grow the league toward 15/16 teams. Morreale said, for example, Quebec City remains on the CEBL’s radar, as does a team in the Kelowna/ Victoria area of B.C.

Further expansion will build on a CEBL “in major markets all over the place,” said Morreale.

It is disappointing that no rumblings of a team in Regina have ever surfaced with CEBL, or in Saskatchewan (to any extent past a rare social media post). The building

exists and there is no reason the city couldn’t support a team. With a team in Saskatoon, Edmonton and now Winnipeg and Calgary it would be a great fit.

And if Morreale thought the upheaval in the CEBL was over for the upcoming season, he was wrong.

Since his interview for this edition of Sports This Week the league has announced another major franchise shift.

The CEBL Champion Hamilton Honey Badgers announced that due to the closure of Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre during the 2024 and 2025 CEBL seasons while arena renovations occur, the Honey Badgers are being permanently relocated to Brampton in time to begin play for the 2023 season. The league and team were informed in a letter on November

11, that FirstOntario Centre would not be available to accommodate basketball games.

“We couldn’t be more excited than to be bringing world class professional basketball to Brampton, and to be able to relocate one of our most successful franchises to a city that has produced several NBA players and elite international stars is a big win for our league, for sports fans in Brampton, and for people across Canada who share our passion for basketball,” said Morreale in a CEBL release.

“We were recently informed that renovations to Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre will displace the Honey Badgers for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Rather than playing elsewhere on a temporary basis

during that time and relaunching the team again in 2026, the City of Brampton made it an easy decision for us to establish a permanent new home in one of the best basketball markets in Canada. The opportunity to play in a basketball hotbed and near Mississauga, Toronto, and our Scarborough franchise is a welcomed solution that we’re very excited about.”

It’s an understandable shift as the Honey Badgers would have been something of a lame duck in Hamilton in 2023 with fans finding it hard to invest in a team they then wouldn’t see in two years, but it’s still another shift in the CEBL landscape.

That said, while it is literally years away Hamilton has to now be high on the list for an expansion franchise in 2026.

A SaskLotteries funded project.