Yorkton This Week 2022-11-30

Judge orders temporary ban on Quewezance sisters’ hearing

By Ryan Kiedrowski, SASKTODAY.ca

“I’m very excited, it’s been a long time coming,” said Odelia Quewezance, anxiously waiting for her sister, Nerissa, to arrive in front of the Yorkton Courthouse on the morning of Nov. 24. “I haven’t seen her since my late fath er’s funeral and that’s almost 18 years today.”

An RCMP vehicle pulls up on the street, and an officer escorts Nerissabound by handcuffs and leg shackles - to her older sister for their first embrace

in almost two decades.

This was a day where the Quewezance sisters had intended to appear for a bail hearing, however, after a request for a publication ban on materials intended to be presented at that hearing, the day in court took on a very different theme.

Crown attorney Kelly Kaip made application for the publication ban on evidence of the hearing, noting that such bans are made daily in court. Her position was that information reported by media sources could possibly influ ence a future jury.

The Quewezance sisters’ lawyer James Lockyear opposed the ban, not ing that the media is an important tool in wrongful convictions and that the public is entitled to know things as they happen with regard to such cases. He was also “troubled by what seems to be a patronizing position by the Crown.”

Kaip assured that the Crown was not taking an adversarial or paternal istic role, but stressed the importance of preserving the process itself. She added how the concerns of the press are understandable, asking for a tem

porary ban and not a permanent order. At one point, she raised the concern of perhaps having a publication ban on the proceedings at hand, that litiga tion should occur in the courtroom as opposed to on the front steps.

Justice Donald Layh ultimately decided on a “temporary interim pub lication ban” on any written materials filed since Sept. 2022. He didn’t find what was discussed in court on Nov. 24 as evidentiary, and those proceedings are protected from a publication ban.

Lions donate $2500 to nutrition program

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

YORKTON – Members of the Yorkton Lions Club presented a $2500 to the Dr. Brass Nutrition Program on the morning of Nov. 24 at an assembly held in the school’s gym nasium.

“It helps out with cost of food, cost of utensils... it just goes a long way to help feed the kids,” said Amanda Banga, Nutrition Worker with Dr. Brass, of the dona

tion.

The breakfast pro gram runs each morning at the school and delivers toast, cereals, yogourts, apples and oranges to students who may other wise go without.

“We serve anywhere from 35–40 kids a day— so it’s a big chunk—and with groceries going up now it helps a lot,” said Banga.

“We make it an enjoy able environment for the kids to start off their day.”

Staff Photo

From left to right, Lion Dave Blommart, Dr. Brass Nutrition Worker Amanda Banga, Lion John Bauman, Lion Allan Konkin and Lion Peter Legebokoff.

The general public gathered at the Yorkton Fire Hall on the morning of Nov. 26 for a pancake breakfast. Members of the Yorkton Fire Department served up food for attendees with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus in attendance for the enjoyment of children. The event was part of the Yorkton Business Improvement District’s weekend of festivities, preceding their annual Santa Claus Parade which was held on Nov. 27.

Staff photo by Tyson Off

Fire Hall breakfast

Continued from Page A1

Lawyers from APTN and CBC also weighed in via telephone.

Bob Sokalski, representing APTN, supported Lockyear’s submissions, not ing that publication bans on cases such as this “only keeps Indigenous people marginalized.”

Sean Sinclair, representing the CBC, offered several questions including how the rights of the Quewezance sisters to a hearing factor into the publication ban request, adding that they have a right to a public hearing.

The Quewezance sisters were con victed in 1994 for killing Anthony Joseph Dolff a year earlier - a crime they main tain they did not commit, and one that their cousin Jason Keshane confessed to perpetrating.

“I would like to have media there for everybody to know,” Odelia said. “Me and my sister were wrongfully con victed, spent 30 years of our lives in prison. Even animals don’t get locked up like that.”

Community and family members observed the court proceedings from the gallery as the Quewezance sisters - and the RCMP officer who earlier escorted Nerissa - sat in the jury box.

“The community supports the sisters. They’ve served a considerable amount of time,” said Keeseekoose First Nation

Chief Lee Kitchemonia. “There was someone who admitted to the crime, and they’ve [the sisters] always main tained their innocence. I really hope the Quewezance sisters get a fair deal and justice is served.”

The sisters were overwhelmed by the support from their community.

“I feel honoured that they’re here, our Chief and Council are reach ing out to us,” said Nerissa. “More of our Aboriginal people need to help. Hopefully this is the start for everybody to start reaching out to us Native people - especially Aboriginal women in pris on. A lot of my sisters are still suffering in penitentiaries. A lot of injustices still, and I hope that this helps the women inside.”

“We’re survivors,” Nerissa said. ”Me and my sister are survivors.”

The case even found mention in Provincial proceedings as opposition Justice critic Nicole Sarauer confronted the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Bronwyn Eyre, about the poten tial miscarriage of justice. While noting the awareness of a federal review cur rently underway in the case, Eyre said, “these convictions were upheld at the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court decided not to hear the case,” conclud ing that it would be “inappropriate” for her to comment further.

Saskatchewan city mayors call for review of housing and income support programs

Submitted by SUMA

Saskatchewan’s city mayors continue to be concerned by the chal lenges faced by their most vulnerable resi dents and are calling on the Government of Saskatchewan to review both the Saskatchewan Income Support program and the Social Housing Program.

“These programs are

supposed to help our residents in need. But we continue to see individ uals struggle to either pay their rent or gain access to affordable social hous ing. This is unaccept able,” Mayor Gerald Aalbers, Chair of SUMA’s City Mayors’ Caucus, said.

“Homelessness creates significant public safety concerns for both those experiencing it and our communities as a whole.”

Concerns were raised last year about the Saskatchewan Income Support program as rent al payments were pro vided to program recipi ents instead of being paid directly to land lords. Following calls for change, the province reinstated direct pay ments for some clients, but inconsistency with the program continues to be a barrier for those in

need.

“The cost-of-liv ing is rising, and the Saskatchewan Income Support program is not meeting the essen tial needs of those who rely on it,” said Mayor Aalbers, who also serves as SUMA’s VicePresident of Cities. “Rent within the province has increased 10 to 15 per cent and both Crown utility corporations have raised their rates, while a single adult in Regina or Saskatoon only receives $600 per month for shel

ter and utilities.”

The mayors also con tinue to be concerned by the more than 3,000 affordable housing units that sit vacant throughout the province, some chronically so. Saskatchewan’s Social Housing Program, admin istered by local housing authorities on behalf of the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, is designed to provide safe and adequate housing to families and seniors with low incomes and people with disabilities.

“Affordable hous ing units should not be sitting vacant when we know there is a need for affordable and stable accommodations,” Mayor Aalbers said. “The Social Housing Program, specif ically housing criteria and maintenance, needs to be reviewed to ensure that these housing units are being utilized.”

The City Mayors’ Caucus discussed con cerns with both programs during their caucus meeting on November 24 in Regina.

Nerissa and Odelia Quewezance.

Up Front

Parkland College sees record number of women in trades

Submitted

YORKTON – Parkland College has a record num ber of women currently enrolled in skilled trade and technology sector programs at their Trades & Technology Centre. The nine women who are enrolled in Welding, Agricultural Equipment Technician and Power Engineering programs make up 22% of their skilled trade and technol ogy students.

“Typically, we see only a handful of women spread across our skilled trade and technology programs so we were elated to see such an increase this year,” explained Malena Vroom, Post Secondary Education, Chair. “Promoting our trades programs to women has been an on-going stra

tegic goal at the college for several years because women are an underrepre sented group in the skilled trades,” Vroom.

According to the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC), as of June 30, 2022, 10 per cent of Saskatchewan apprentices self-identified as female and almost six per cent of Saskatchewan apprentices were females registered in trades where women are underrepresented.

Encouraging women to pursue apprenticeships and careers in the skilled trades is also a priority for the SATCC.

Welding student, Vienna Severight, said “I knew I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to be active and earn

a decent living. Although I had no prior knowledge or experience with weld ing, I had the opportunity in high school to be part of a Tiny House project that exposed me to trades and apprenticeship opportun ities.” When asked what it’s like to be one of the few women in the class she explained, “it really makes you push yourself and learn as much as you can from your instructors and fellow classmates.”

Parkland College hopes to see a continued increase in women entering their trades pro grams in the years to come. Applications are now open for programs starting in fall of 2023 and interested students are encouraged to apply before programs reach capacity.

Legacy Co-op announces Sustainable Modular Farm Project

initiatives

Submitted

YORKTON — Legacy Co-op Board of Directors have approved a modular farm project to be oper ated on the Yorkton food store site.

“Through this pro ject we will secure safe, healthy leafy greens grown on our own loca tions, as a part of our sus tainability pillar. Given the volatility in price and supply of leafy greens right now, it was a great time to invest in this type of operation,” stated

Bruce Thurston, General Manager of Legacy Co-op.

Legacy Co-op will add a 10 foot by 40 foot, insulated, pre-fabricated modular growing system behind the Yorkton food store.

“The container is cur rently in the building stages and will arrive for placement in the spring and the first crop will take six to eight weeks from grow until harvest,” continued Thurston.

The system includes everything needed to grow fresh produce all

year, securing safe, healthy food that is not trucked hundreds of miles or dependent on weather events. Benefits of this type of project include:

• fresh, sustainable, and safe produce grown in any climate all year

• unique hands-on learning and educational experiences

• promotion of healthy, nutritious eating and wellness

• community engage ment through partner ships and donation

• increase in self-suffi ciency of our food supply

• creation of meaning ful employment oppor tunities

• creation of an eco nomically self-sufficient

project with predictable costs

• allows Legacy Co-op to offer a house brand to differentiate them from the market

• up to 140 different types of leafy greens can

be grown “We are very excited to see the benefits that this type of project will add to our food operation,” stated Teresa Polegi, Food Division Manager for Legacy Co-op.

Hot breakfast at the fire hall

Yorkton Fire and Protective Services hosted a pancake breakfast on the mor ning of Nov. 26 at the Yorkton Fire Hall. Attendees were treat ed to a pancake break fast with a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

Staff Photo by Tyson Off

Submitted Photo

Are $500 cheques the best expenditure?

MURRAY MANDRYK

Murray Mandryk is a political columnist with the Leader Post

Politics

There’s a high probability that you’ve received your $500 affordability tax credit cheque by now.

Unsurprisingly, the move has been incredibly popular for Premier Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government, notwithstanding a few glaring hiccups.

After all, what taxpayer doesn’t like getting cheques back from the government?

The most obvious hiccup has to do with cheques going to people who have died.

It likely could have been avoided, but avoid ance would have come with the added costs of time and bureaucratic expense that would have been needed of cross-referencing those who had died after they filed their income tax. Even then, lag time would have produced some errors.

And while a bit of a fuss has been made over this happening, it shouldn’t be all that big an issue. Cheques can be torn up or simply cashed by the executor of the estate. (There is also an argument that those who contributed to this prov ince during the hard time should be allowed to see their descendants benefit from this windfall.)

The better question is the overall fairness — something other provinces are trying to achieve.

In Alberta, newly minted Premier Danielle Smith has announced a series of rather generous anti-inflation expenditures (it’s likely worth not ing that province has a scheduled general elec tion in six months) that includes a $600 payment to seniors and most families with children under 18 years (presuming they earn less than $180,000 a year).

Smith’s $2.4-billion package also includes fuel tax and personal income tax relief.

Meanwhile, in Quebec, inflation relief cheques are only going to people who earn less than $100,000 a year.

Here in Saskatchewan, the NDP initially argued a few months ago that everyone — every man, woman and child — should simply get $100.

It’s a worse and less helpful idea.

The NDP argument of late has been that it’s patently unfair that a rich retired couple will collect $1,000 but a single mom with three kids who needed the money much more badly would only get $500.

This is so, but the Opposition neglects to men tion that that same single mom with three kids would only collect $400 under its initial proposal — $100 less.

The NDP Opposition now seem to be talk ing about everyone getting $500 cheques, that would add close to $100 million in expenses to a program already costing government coffers about $450 million. (Moreover, there would be the added problem of sorting out where the cheques are sent when kids don’t live with their parents.)

But whether or not this is best way to distrib ute money to people, the better and more legitim ate question might be: What else we could have done with this windfall?

Government debt in the province that will hit $30 billion next year and $35 billion by 2027.

And while politics (including political pres sures from oppositions demanding the windfalls be spent on people) likely prevents any govern ment from a massive debt paydown, there are still better choices.

We are emerging from a health care crisis that’s producing massive demand for doctors, nurses and other providers because of the num bers burned out by the pandemic.

Perhaps cash bonuses to get such health care workers to stay or come here isn’t a great longterm solution. But any incentive-based program — which might include more training or incen tives for nurse practitioners or salaried pos itions some doctors are asking for — will require money.

Schools and roads could use money. We might have also considered other potential infrastruc ture spending — especially if government and people are to be encouraged to convert from costly coal-fired electrical generation. Wouldn’t incentives have been wiser?

Would investing in housing or policing be a similarly wiser way to spend a windfall?

Alas, it’s easier for a government to send out cheques. And it seems unlikely many will com plain.

Murray Mandryk has been covering provincial politics since 1983.

Fact and fiction mix at public order inquiry

By Greg Nikkel Weyburn Review

It’s hard to judge how much fact and how much fiction is being spread at the Public Order Emergency Commission inquiry in Ottawa, and there’s more yet to come.

What is certain is the federal gov ernment is going to say anything it can to justify itself, and to justify the unprecedented action of declaring a street protest as a national security threat.

The Emergencies Act was not creat ed to serve their own political interests, but clearly the prime minister didn’t get that memo. On Feb. 14, Justin Trudeau declared the public order emergency, invoking powers that ought only to ever be used in the face of an actual national threat to security.

Thus the inquiry was set up to ques tion all of the parties involved to offi cially determine if there was any justi fication for invoking the act to deal with the truckers that filled the streets of downtown Ottawa.

As Canada is a democratic country, the right to free speech and the right to protest is just as important as any of the other rights set out for the citizens of this country.

There have been truck convoys to Ottawa before, notably in protest of the carbon tax that is unfairly imposed on Western Canada, and this particular “Freedom Convoy” was put together to protest the many draconian restrictions imposed under the COVID pandemic.

(As a side note, this is an issue that actually begs to have an official inquiry, but probably never will, in spite of the actual harm the restrictions had on Canada’s economy and mental health of nearly every Canadian resident.)

The convoy was joined by other people outside of the protesters’ group, and many of these were some of the more extreme individuals who caused problems at the protest site. As such, there was no way the initial organizers could have any control over what these others did or said, and yet the media in Central Canada were fine with painting the whole group with the same brush.

What is telling is that recent testi mony at the inquiry openly admitted the threat was not bad enough to war rant the public emergency order, but instead a wider definition of “threat” was used. That says it all, that the gov ernment came up with their own reason for the order.

This does not justify the use of an order that gives unprecedented powers to the federal government, an adminis tration that openly acts against anyone who disagrees with them and ignores the hurt caused, personally or econom ically, to those residents (see the carbon tax fiasco).

The self-justification will continue when Trudeau takes the stand to testify at the inquiry, expected to happen by the end of this week. The commission will then take several months to put together its final report – but don’t hold your breath if you’re expecting any real justice or objective viewpoints in the final report.

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

The FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) World Cup is on now! It is taking place in Qatar from Nov 20 to Dec 18, 2022. The interest ing part is that the football we say here is usually called soccer in Canada, which is one of the best-known differences between British and American English. However, you may be surprised that the name soccer is actually British slang. Soccer was originally called association football—and still is when referring to the official game. Soccer clips out the second syllable of association and tacks on the –er suffix, originally by the students at Oxford University during the 1880s. The word was adopted by North Americans players in the early 1900s (Britannica.com). This is Canada’s second time reaching the finals of the global event since 1986. On Nov 27, Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first men’s World Cup goal! Canada’s next game is vs. Morocco at 9 am Dec 1. Let’s cheer for Canada!

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A tale of salamanders and Saltcoats

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

The Laketown Players are busy pre paring for its February dinner theatre production of The Salamander’s Tale.

The play is a definite ‘Saltcoatsstory’ as it was written by Stephen Farquharson, who was born and raised in the community.

And of course the town is famous, at least locally, as home to hundreds of the amphibians.

“Saltcoats has forever been associ ated with the Tiger Salamanders that inhabit the area, and when I was a young boy, in autumn, when it rained, the streets would literally be covered with salamanders, to the point you had trouble putting your foot down without stepping on one,” recalled Farquharson.

“Some of the kids went out of their way to kill them, but my friends and I always were careful with them and tried to save them from getting squished if we could.

“I think the beginnings of the play were certainly born during those times in my life.”

Farquharson said his interest never really waned.

“Another interesting thing about salamanders is their ability to regrow certain parts of their body, and the myths about certain types of them being

born in fire,” he said, adding that was stuff that can inspire a writer.

“It is a comedy, but I think it also has some important messages within it,” said Farquharson. “I wrote the play in 2018, and we were almost ready to per form in 2019 when COVID shut every thing down.

“Since then, I’ve re-written it a bit -a couple years to edit and revise wasn’t a bad thing for the play’s sake -- but not much of substance has changed from the original. The play was written prior to COVID, but I think the message with in the play of re-birth and regeneration is even more important today.”

Farquharson then refers to the teas er put out for the play is ‘the mystery of the giant salamander of Mud Puppy Lake might just run deeper than the lake itself’.

For Farquharson who has taught in Saltcoats, Theodore, YRHS, Yorkdale, and then back to Saltcoats, before retir ing in 2017, although he still substitute teaches, has always held some interest in writing.

“I took some creative writing classes at U of S and have tried my hand at writ ing at various times in my life,” he said. “It wasn’t until I was involved in Dinner Theatre productions in Saltcoats that I decided to try writing a play. Finding a play that seemed good and that fit our group was getting more and more dif ficult as we often have over 14 actors

wanting to be a part of things, including several students from Saltcoats School and the YRHS.

“So I thought maybe I could write one specifically for us.

“My first play was ‘Peanuts and Cracker Jacks’ and I received enough positive feedback that I thought I’d try again when I wrote ‘The Alley Cat and the Scrap Heap Kids’.

“I’ve been involved with the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild from time to time, but haven’t pursued getting my plays published at this point. This is now my sixth play, and I feel very hon oured that The Laketown Players are willing to put so much effort into bring ing my plays to life.”

Farquharson said he finds writing “an interesting process.”

“Sometimes it’s a tough go, where nothing really flows. When I get like that, I usually leave my laptop alone for a while.

“When the ideas have bounced around in my head long enough, then the writing often feels more like taking dictation.”

One day Farquharson added he’d like his work to go to a broader audi ence.

“It would be fun to one day get some of my plays published, but for now, I’m happy using them to raise money for community groups in Saltcoats,” he said. “This year’s play will raise money

for the Regional Park, the Curling Club, the YFBTA, the Hall Board, museum, and possibly others.

“It feels really good to do work with the wonderful people of The Laketown Players and do so much good for our community at the same time.”

This performance will also have a certain sadness as it becomes a memor ial of sorts.

“In the time since we were first going to perform the play until now, we lost three very important members of group, all to different forms of cancer,” said Farquharson.

“The three were Jim McCallum (along with his wife Phyllis for years) was our ticket master, Joan Wilson was one of the pillars of our acting corp as well as our resident artist for props and sets, and Joan Farquharson who supported the group with baking for practices and any number of behind the scenes jobs. She was also always one of the first to read my manuscripts, and often had great ideas for revisions -and places she worried that I’d crossed yet another line.

“We are going to dedicate the per formances to all three of these special people that the community, and The Laketown Players, miss very dearly.”

The play is scheduled to be per formed Feb. 2, 3 and 4. Tickets can be purchased from Les and Shirley Pearson at 306-716-6564.

Humboldt families show solidarity with JSCN

By Julia Peterson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

HUMBOLDT — In every corner of Elgar Petersen arena, there are tributes to the victims of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash.

Two memorial bench es greet visitors on their

way into the venue: one made of hockey sticks; a second, in Broncos green-and-yellow, reads “always in our hearts,” though the message is almost hidden by two enormous teddy bears.

Banners with the names of those killed in the crash are suspended over the ice. Behind them, a quilt sent from

Alberta hangs on the wall.

During Sunday’s game against the Flin Flon Bombers, amongst the sea of green and yellow, splashes of red and black stood out in the crowd — spectators wear ing “James Smith Cree Nation Strong” T-shirts, who wanted to show their ongoing support follow

ing the mass stabbings in September.

“Four and a half years ago, the whole coun try — the whole world — showed a tremendous amount of support for the Humboldt Broncos, and for my family,” said Carol Brons, whose daughter Dayna was athletic ther apist for the Broncos and among those who died in the bus crash.

“So it’s important to me to be able to show that same support in return, and give a little bit of hope to the fam ilies of James Smith as they travel through this terrible tragedy and try to heal.”

At the game, Brons wore her James Smith Strong T-shirt, which she hopes will be “a visible show of support from one community to another that’s been hurting.”

Over the shirt, she wore an angel wing pen dant with her daughter’s name.

“Across Canada, there have been lots of times that the Broncos were honoured at differ ent arenas and venues,” Brons said. “I wasn’t able to be present at most of them, but if I heard about it, it did mean something to me.

“And it’s never too late to offer your sympathies or show support. I still have people coming up to me and offering their words.

“It’s just a reminder that there are people out there that support you, and are helping you walk

the journey of grief.”

In the immediate aftermath of the stabbing attacks on James Smith Cree Nation, people in Humboldt organized food drives for the sur vivors and vigils for the dead. Some visited the First Nation, finding con nections through shared tragedy and the early days of healing.

Penny Lee, market ing and development manager for the City of Humboldt, says those relationships will last.

“There’s definitely an invisible thread between the two communities,” she said. “We’ll never forget one another. The friendships we’re build ing are even stronger.

“Their tragedy brought back a lot for us, here, so we wanted to reach out to them in any way that we could, and continue to do that, in the same way people have supported us.”

Celeste Leray-Leicht remembers the out pouring of support she received after losing her son, Jacob, in the bus crash — included a beaded ribbon from Lissa Bear, an artist from James Smith Cree Nation.

And Leray-Leicht remembers many trips from Humboldt to JSCN as a child, when her brothers played hockey at that rink, about an hour away from home.

“They’re not that far. They’re just down the road from us,” she said.

So, over the past few months, Leray-Leicht has felt “compelled” to sup port the community how ever she can.

She also wants people to know how important it is to keep showing up for grieving communities well into the future, as immediate needs give way to long-term com munity healing.

“I think this is a huge responsibility of adults in our community, to show what we do,” she said.

“We show up for people, right? Just like people showed up for us. We were shown a lot of kindness, and we were taught a lot of compas sion.

“So we’re grateful — we’re sad, under what the circumstances are — but we’re grateful that we are able to do these things just the same.”

On Saturday, LerayLeicht got out her James Smith Strong T-shirt and started preparing to attend the next day’s game. If there was a chance to show her sup port and solidarity with her neighbours down the road, she wanted to take it.

“I do still love hockey,” she said. “It’s always a struggle, going to Broncos games, to be honest. I’ve been to one period this fall — one period of a game, that’s it. It’s tough, walking into our home arena.”

But, she said, she would be there on Sunday.

Meal for a cause

Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan held a ‘Home for Dinner’ fundraiser on Friday. The event had people purchase tickets for a meal that was purchased from a local supporting restaurant or cater er. In Yorkton, it was Joe Beeverz who participated. Here Earl, Gerry Ann and son Nick Fraser take part

in the meal. Through the support and generosity of local donors and volunteers, Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan (RMHC-SK) provides safe and comforting spaces for families caring for their sick child receiving medical treatment in Saskatchewan.

Submitted Photo

USask research a step closer to shedding light on bacterial infection process

Victoria Dinh, USask Media Relations

SASKATOON – Before you got those nasty gut cramps that sent you scurrying to the wash room, or you came down with a fever, chills, and clogged airways thanks to pneumonia, various cells in your body were bat tling bacterial invaders who showed up armed with sophisticated tool box to overcome the body’s defences.

The contents of this toolbox are proteins called effectors, and their mechanism of attacking cells to cause disease has been tough to pin down.

Just ask microbiolo gist Dr. Miroslaw Cygler (PhD) at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine, who has been studying effectors for more than a decade to understand their role in bacterial infections.

Common bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella each have 30-50 of these specialized proteins, whereas Legionella, a highly infectious patho gen spreading through inhaling microscopic water droplets con taining the bacteria— say from the spray of a shower, faucet or whirl pool, or water from the

ventilation system in a large building—contains as many as 300-350 effect ors, said Cygler.

The action of each effector protein can be different, but many have partially overlapping functions. That makes very challenging to figure out what each protein is doing and to understand their individual contribu tions to disease develop ment, Cygler said.

Some bacteria types attach to the outside of a cell—different bac teria select different cell types—and use a syringelike apparatus to inject their effectors through the cell membrane into the cell, he said. Other bacteria enter the cell when the cell membrane engulfs the bacterium in a process called phago cytosis, and then begin releasing their effectors.

“Of course, the cell has many defence mech anisms to counter that, and the bacteria have another set of mechan isms to combat those responses,” Cygler said. “So, there is this huge tugof-war, and depending on the individual’s immune system, some people get really sick, others get a little sick and quickly recover.

Now, in a paper pub

lished in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the prestigious, highly cited multidisciplinary sci ence journal, Cygler and collaborators from an Australian labora tory report they have identified a target of the enteropathogenic E. coli bacterium effector pro tein called NleH.

This bacterium tar gets human epithelial cells. NleH recognizes a protein called Eps8 and disrupts its normal cellu lar function, which facili tates the infection pro cess. Enteropathogenic E. coli is a significant cause of diarrheal dis ease in children under age 2 in lower income countries.

Cygler’s lab at USask, in collaboration with Professor Elizabeth Hartland’s group at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research at Monash University in Australia, has opened the door to new discov eries involving effector proteins.

“Our research led to a more thorough under standing of the cellular function of this effector and provided avenues for further investigations,” Cygler said.

“But we are not at

the point yet where we say we can say that this NleH protein is a good target for antibiotics development that would lead to controlling E. coli infection”, said Cygler. “We have expanded our knowledge about the E. coli effectors’ mechan isms, but more research is required to fully understand the complex interplay between this bacterium and cellular responses of human epi thelial cells.”

Cygler’s team and other international col laborators will continue

the long-term process of investigating all the types of effectors in gram-negative bacteria, trying to discover their pathogenic processes, and investigating which would be good targets for inhibiting or modulating in order to control dis eases.

He described science as a parallel process, where discoveries from many sources converge over time to lead to solu tions.

“It frequently takes a long time from initial ‘blue sky’ research

results to discovering their commercial appli cations,” Cygler said. “If you look at Nobel prizes, often they are given for discoveries made 20-30 years ago. At the time people didn’t see many applications for them, but they are later award ed because they led to unpredicted benefits,” he said.

“So, it’s curiosity as usual that leads us to places that we don’t know what they mean, but eventually we find out that they’re very important.”

Employment increase in manufacturing

Submitted

The Government of Saskatchewan has rec ognized this week as Manufacturing Week in the province, cele brating the significant contributions of the manufacturing sector to Saskatchewan’s econ omy.

“Our government is proud of the continued growth in the manufac turing sector, which is a major generator of jobs and economic oppor tunities in our prov ince,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “Manufacturing is a major contributor in keeping Saskatchewan competitive in domes tic and international markets. Manufacturing week is a great oppor tunity to recognize those involved in this import ant sector.”

Manufacturing con tinues to be a vital area for economic growth and diversification in Saskatchewan. The manufacturing sector contributed $5.1 billion to Saskatchewan’s total 2021 real GDP of $77.4 billion. This represents about 6.6 per cent of

Saskatchewan’s GDP, which is an increase of 0.5 percentage points from the previous year.

The Government of Saskatchewan has also released a report entitled Overview of the Manufacturing Sector in Saskatchewan 2022. The report provides data on manufacturing GDP, the number and size of businesses, employment, shipments, earnings, and capital investment.

Highlights include: Employment in the manufacturing sector in Saskatchewan increased by 2.9 per cent in 2021. This increase is partly due to growth in global and domestic demand.

Saskatchewan had 1,892 manufacturing establishments in 2021 and most (94.1 per cent) of them were small busi nesses.

Saskatchewan’s inter national exports of manu factured goods totaled $7.6 billion in 2021 and made up 20.6 per cent of Saskatchewan’s net exports.

Between 2020 and 2021, Saskatchewan’s manufacturing ship ments grew by 33.2 per cent (second highest among the provinces).

Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan includes a goal to increase the value of manufacturing exports by 50 per cent by the year 2030. That goal will be achieved by ensuring Saskatchewan has a com petitive tax and regula tory environment for investment, expanding access to Canadian and international markets for Saskatchewan manu facturers and creating incentives that improve efficiency and accelerate investment.

USask College of Medicine microbiologist Dr. Miroslaw Cygler (PhD).

Photo courtesy of University Of Saskatchewan

Understanding where food comes from

In terms of educa tion, I count myself among those who are a fan of the efforts of Agriculture in the Classroom.

While I am of an age where most kids had a close tie to farming, someone they would at least visit at times, today that is far from the case.

Now I don’t think it’s particularly necessary to know how to raise a chicken and collect eggs, those would be skills you simply won’t ever use – in Yorkton the city even rejected a request to allow for regulated backyard laying hens based on concerns from the Protective Services Commission.

And therein is why you might at least want to know where eggs come from and how farmers make sure we have safe eggs to eat,

because if ‘protective services’ had issues with hens within their pur view of protecting the community there would seemed to have been a lack of understanding about the birds.

A rogue hen wander ing down a residential street is hardly a pub lic threat, and if the concern was attracting foxes and coyotes, then cats might be banned as well, and restaurant garbage better policed.

So understanding where our food comes from is important.

A larger question is should youth learn how to grow food?

My grandparents would likely do the pro verbial roll over in their graves to think people wouldn’t know how to grow a garden.

They had green thumbs that extended up to their elbows, and

Agriculture THIS WEEK

Calvin Daniels

in Tisdale, Sask., back then the majority of homes would have had a garden.

Today we make much of our food security, but often prefer a yard cov ered in concrete and gazebos so as to not need to sweat in the gar den growing carrots.

It’s understandable from the sense we trust the system to have food on the shelves when ever we go.

The COVID pandem ic, and now whatever is conspiring to make

lettuce and other food items so expensive, are showing us shortages can occur in our world, and lettuce grown hun dreds of miles away may not always be afford able.

Maybe our front yards should be a potato patch, and city boule vards should grow corn for community food banks, but that seems like an unlikely scen ario anytime soon.

So does teaching kids how to garden matter?

Probably not since

the opportunities to use the skill is limited, and an internet search is great for finding ‘howto’ videos.

That said maybe youth do learn some thing intrinsic about food by getting their hands dirty in growing their future lunch.

What is more intriguing from Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan is its launch of a new educa tional resource to help prepare students for life outside of the class room.

“The Food Security Budget Game helps students explore the obstacles preventing food security and learn the skills of budget ing and cost-effective food choices. Based on the latest data from Statistics Canada, 5.8 million Canadians,

including 1.4 million children, lived in food insecure households in 2021,” noted a release.

“The Food Security Budget Game helps high school students develop important life skills,” says Sara Shymko, Executive Director of AITC-SK. “Students learn that many families are only a paycheck or unexpected expense away from food insecur ity. It is imperative that students understand the barriers and chal lenges of food security, and why budgeting is so important to financial stability.”

These are skills that are critical – under standing that while soft drinks might be cheap er than milk its not a good choice and how to be careful in purchases because for most money is always more limited than we might like.

Provincial carbon pricing for industrial emitters approved

By John Cairns, SASKTODAY.ca

REGINA - The prov ince announced Tuesday that its provincial plan to replace the federal carbon tax on indus trial emitters has been approved, effective Jan. 1 of next year.

The Saskatchewan Output-Based Performance Standards Program got the okay from the federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.

The Saskatchewan plan will take effect next year instead of the federal backstop. What it means, according to Environment Minister Dana Skoropad, is that all industrial carbon taxes will now stay in Saskatchewan, saving money for industry in the province compared to the alternative.

“It’s a significant amount of savings when you compare our pro gram’s to the federal backstop. We’re looking at $3.7 billion in savings for our industry,” said Skoropad. “That $3.7 bil lion certainly allows our industries to continue to innovate, allows the industries to continue to grow in this province. You know, it’s a program that is balanced and measured, and certainly takes into account the unique Saskatchewan circumstances, quite frankly. And we’ve seen

overwhelming support for our program as com pared to the federal backstop.”

How it works is that it would be comparable to the federal program in that the carbon pricing signal needs to be main tained, said Skoropad. But the Saskatchewan program also “recog nize the good work by our industries already. It’s a baseline, it’s an individualized program as opposed to just a set standard or bench mark.”

Skoropad explained that if they meet that reduction target, or exceed that target, they would have an opportun ity to earn a credit of one credit for every tonne of carbon that they would be reducing by.

If they fail to meet that, they would have the option to pur chase the performance credit or contribute to the Saskatchewan Technology Fund. According to the prov ince’s news release, this will create incentives for industry to develop and implement technol ogies that contribute to meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emis sions intensity.

The industries cov ered by this are broadreaching, said Skoropad. He pointed to oil and gas, mining, refining and upgrading, manufac turing and processing,

among others. “We’re looking at all sectors.”

In the province’s news release, they pointed to support for the plan from one of their major industrial companies, Mosaic.

“We’re very pleased to hear the announcement from today and appre ciate the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment and Environment and Climate Change Canada for all of the efforts

taken to date,” Director of Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability for Mosaic Jessica Theriault said in a statement.

“This decision will not only contribute to ensur ing that our Mosaic sites in Saskatchewan remain competitive around the world, but further sup ports our ESG commit ments and continued role in helping to feed the world.”

What is still unclear

yet is what the impact will be on SaskPower and SaskEnergy bills for consumers, now that those companies will also be under the new Saskatchewan carbon pricing plan.

When asked about the announcement Tuesday, Opposition critic Aleana Young had a cautious response. “It’s great that we have carbon tax dollars staying in Saskatchewan but there

are a lot of questions,” she said.

“Utility bills, wheth er they will still have a Saskatchewan carbon tax line, is a big ques tion. What impact there is going to be on rebates to families is another question, as well as what is going to happen to roughly half a billion dollars a year that, by my read of the news release, is going to be staying in Saskatchewan.”

Water Security Agency releases winter conditions forecast

The Water Security Agency’s (WSA) 2022

Conditions at Freeze-up Report indicates that most areas of the prov ince are on the dry side going into the winter. While some areas of the province experienced higher than normal spring and early sum mer precipitation, the last half of the summer and early fall were dry

resulting in drier than normal soil moisture con ditions at freeze-up.

Most larger water supply reservoirs across southern and central Saskatchewan have adequate supplies.

At this time, there are no areas where WSA believes that there is a heightened risk of above normal spring runoff in 2023. There is, however,

concern of surface water supply issues in the southwest if winter snow fall is below average. The southwest and east-central portions of the province experi enced two significant snowfall events this fall that melted, improving near surface soil mois tures. Snow surveys in February 2023 will help determine if the mois

ture will infiltrate into the soil or run off toward reservoirs.

WSA issues the Conditions at Freeze up Report during the late fall/early winter period. Freeze-up conditions, in combination with the winter snowpack, becomes the initial base for the spring snowmelt runoff forecast. This report gives an early

indication of areas that are more vulnerable to potentially above or below normal runoff in the spring. It is not a spring runoff forecast, as winter snow accumula tion is an integral com ponent in the runoff yield during the melt and is impossible to predict at this juncture.

This assessment is compiled with data from

various sources includ ing Environment and Climate Change Canada and the US National Weather Service. We are anticipating near nor mal temperatures but larger snowpacks this year (based on historical data).

The initial Spring Runoff Outlook for 2023 will be issued in early February.

Photo by John Cairns

Environment Minister Dana Skoropad shared the breaking news with reporters at the Legislature of approv al of the province’s carbon pricing regime for industry emitters.

Sp orts

Blowout win for Maulers in Sunday match

By Calvin Daniels & Tyson Off Staff Writers

The Yorkton SECON Maulers only generated 22 shots on Nov. 23 as they defended home ice against the Regina Pat Canadians.

And, unfortunately for the home side no Mauler shot eluded Regina netminder Taylor Tabashniuk who earned a shut-out.

Meanwhile Mauler goaltender Blake Sittler faced 25 shots, allowing five goals in the loss.

Regina scored once in the first period on a shot by Ryan McDonald.

Nolan Stevenson made it 2-0 for Regina with the only goal of the second period, a power play effort.

Casey Brown made it 3-0 in the third period with Regina’s second powerplay goal of the game.

It was then Jaxon Skiftun’s turn to shine, scoring two goals in 16 seconds to round out the 5-0 Pat Canadians win.

The Maulers went on to play back to back games against the Saskatoon Contacts on Nov. 26 and 27 resulting in a shootout loss in their first match and an oppressive win in their second.

In game one of the weekend matches, the first period had the Maulers’ Edward Knittig capitalize on a power play effort which was answered by the Contacts’ Braeden Jockims.

The second period had the Maulers’ Leo Jewitt hit the target on the power play and was followed up with a goal from the team’s Tanner Wiens. The Contacts’ Zach Moore closed out the scoring for the second period on a power play effort.

The Maulers opened up the scoring early in the first with a goal coming by way of Alex Morrison. The Contacts’ Braden Nienaber scored on a power play effort with the team’s Luke Korte tying the game later on.

The latter half of the third and overtime per iods saw a stalemate and the game was forced into a shootout with the Contacts’ coming out vic torious.

Wayne Bouvier was in net for the Maulers, facing 40 shots and block ing 36.

Logan Edmonstone was in net for the win, 35 shots and blocking 31.

The Maulers’ Edward Knittig and the Contacts’ Zach Moore were award

ed stars of the game.

The Maulers show cased a dominating win over the Contacts in their second weekend match on Nov. 27.

Kyle Weisgarber was the first to put the Maulers on the board and the goal was answered by the Contacts’ Zach Moore on a power play effort. Moore’s goal would be the Contacts last of the game.

The Maulers’ Leo Jewitt put two in the net before the end of the first period and another for the hat trick to kick off the second period. Shaden Duliak scored another in the latter half of the second and a shorthanded goal from Sam Cristo closed out the period.

Tyler Gudjonson was the first to score in the third period and Duliak

scored his second of the game on a power play effort. A dominating 8-1 performance from the home team.

Blake Sittler was in net for the win, facing 23 shots.

Logan Edmonstone was netminder for the first period, facing 5 shots and allowing 3.

Chase Wutzke was in net for the second and third period, facing 23

shots and saving 17.

Leo Jewitt was award ed the first star of the game for his efforts and the Contacts’ Spencer Chestolowski was award ed the second.

The Maulers will trav el to Tisdale on Dec. 3 to face the Trojans, Regina on Dec. 7 to face the Pat Canadians and will host the Prince Albert Mintos on Dec. 10 at Westland Arena.

The Maulers dominated the Saskatoon Contacts in their Nov. 27 matchup with an 8-1 win.

SENIORS just for

Our Monthly Feature

...For Seniors and about Seniors

Retired RCMP officer reflects on 40-year career

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

YORKTON – Being a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police can be a tough job, but for some, it’s the opportunity to have an impact in a community that makes for a reward ing career.

Local retired RCMP, Pat Rawlick—who spent 40 years serving the prov ince of Saskatchewan as a member of the RCMP from 1968 until 2008— said his journey through the ranks was “extremely rewarding”.

Rawlick, who is origin ally from Winnipeg Man., said he was still a child when he decided he wanted to join the force.

“I was probably ten years old, and there’s a resort north of Winnipeg called Winnipeg Beach – we would drive into Winnipeg Beach and go for lunch and I remem ber one day walking with my Dad and Mom on the main street in Winnipeg Beach and there were two RCMP coming towards us—honestly they looked like they were ten feet tall—they wore boots and breeches and they had their Stetsons on and their Sam Browns on, which is the holsters,” said Rawlick in an inter view with Yorkton This Week.

“When people saw them, they went to the edges of the sidewalk or closer to the building to let these two RCMP go through,” said Rawlick, adding, “since that day—I don’t know what it was—

but I always wanted to be a member of the RCMP.”

“It was branded in my mind and in my heart that that’s the occupation that I wanted.”

Rawlick’s childhood dream would material ize on Jan. 2, 1968, when he would take the train from Winnipeg to Regina to attend training for the RCMP.

“I had been sworn in before Jan. 1 in Winnipeg on Main St. and on Jan. 2 my mother and my Dad and my sister and friends took me to the train.”

Rawlick said he start ed training at the RCMP Depot in Regina, but fin ished his in Alta.

“In my time there was a lot of members apply ing for the force and depot was really full, so to accommodate more policemen they would transfer every second troop to Penhold, Alta. – we stayed at an old military base and we fin ished our second part of training there.”

After complet ing training, Rawlick returned to Regina to begin working for the RCMP. In the months and years to follow, the new recruit would find him self stationed in several different Sask. commun ities.

“After I had gradu ated from Penhold Alta. I was transferred back to Regina Town Station – I got into barracks on the fifth floor and that’s where we lived and worked out of,” said Rawlick, noting he was only in Regina for a few months before being

transferred to Estevan and then to Kindersley several months later.

“In those days it was really easy to transfer members because we were all single – you weren’t allowed to get married for five years— and it was cheap—[the RCMP] had no families to move.”

After working in Kindersley, Rawlick was transferred to Saskatoon Highway Patrol where he spent a year on the job before being transferred to Rosetown to work Highway Patrol.

In 1973 Rawlick was transferred from Rosetown to Moosomin where he spent another year on the force.

“I was probably in Moosomin a year plus – from Moosomin I got transferred to Morse,” a town near Swift Current.

Rawlick was only in Morse for three months when he got transferred to Big River, the town where he would meet and marry his wife Laverne.

After getting married and another transfer— this time to Lumsden— Rawlick was able to set

tle in to a community for a time.

“I think I was in Lumsden for six years and that’s where my three kids were raised,” said Rawlick.

It wasn’t the last time Rawlick would trans fer as he was eventu ally promoted and sent to Punnichy where he worked for three years. Another trans fer put Rawlick in Kyle, where he worked as the Detachment Commander for five years. “From Kyle I got promoted to Sargeant at Carrot River and I was there for a number of years and then from Carrot River I got promoted again to Staff Sargeant,” said Rawlick.

In 1995, after a mar riage, three kids and 13 transfers, Rawlick would find himself in the city he now resides in; Yorkton.

“My position here was an Area Supervisor – I supervised all the detachments around here,” said Rawlick of his duties with the Yorkton RCMP.

Rawlick retired from the RCMP in 2008 and said the career was “extremely rewarding,” noting he received sever al awards and accolades during his time spent with the force.

“I’ve got my long service medal which is gold, representing 35 years, I’ve got a Queen’s

Jubilee Medal, I’ve got a Protective Services Medal and I’ve got a Saskatchewan Medal.”

“I’m very proud of those. I think in my time I can honestly say that I felt an obligation to the people of Saskatchewan to ensure—to the best of my abilities—safe roads, safe homes and safe com munities. As long as you were fully committed, that was the goal.”

Though some would find the myriad of trans fers difficult to endure, Rawlick said it was just part of the job.

“In those days you did what your boss told you – you took orders, you obeyed orders and you made the best of things,” said Rawlick, adding, “I never knew where Morse was or where Big River was—I’d never been through those places— but when he told me I was going I found out where they were and I went—and you know what—I totally enjoyed all those places.”

It was important for Rawlick to immerse him self in the communities he lived and worked in to maintain long-lasting friendships.

“The RCMP—in my time – and I certainly believe still now—wants community involve ment,” said Rawlick.

“Others lived differ ent lifestyles than me

– I remember being sta tioned in Rosetown and there was a Sargeant there and he was prob ably the first gentleman to tell me ‘get involved in the communities —don’t think that you’re special and just hang around with the RCMP mem bers—get to know people in the community.’”

“That was extremely important—I was young in my service but he was right—if you’re not involved in your com munity, it’s a long damn ride to sit in some lit tle detachment with no friends.”

Having lived in so many communities over the years, Rawlick said he made many long-last ing friendships by having a presence in the com munity at anywhere from the local coffee shops to sporting events.

“Every place that I’ve lived as a married man I have civilian friends there right now—I could go to Carrot River and I could stay with a number of people—Kyle is the same way.”

“When you took your family into a commun ity—if you wanted to real ly enjoy that community you had to take owner ship—Lumsden was my community and we did everything in that com munity.”

“You make friends because you want to be a part of their community and that’s what Laverne and I did.”

Rawlick credits his wife Laverne for the support she showed him throughout his time with the RCMP.

“I can tell you one person—that really has kept me focused and supported me in every way—is my wife. There were times you’d come home and you’d had a bad day and you talked to your wife and she would console you. There were times when you were getting transferred and say, ‘God, I’m not sure I want to take the family and move at this time of the year – ‘it’s okay, we’ll work it out,’ she would

Pat Rawlick, pictured here with wife Laverne, worked as an RCMP officer in over ten Sask. com munites from 1968 - 2008.

Rawlick was recognized for his service through the Royal Canadian Legion’s Banner Program.

Is 70 the happiest age?

According to research, it seems the age most people are happiest is 70. Does that surprise you? Here’s why this period of life is sometimes called the Age of Happiness.

Factors in your favour

Why, despite losing their youthful energy, do people at this age tend to say they’ve never felt better? The reasons may vary, but the following factors are consistent:

• They let go of the pressure to perform or please others at any price

• They lose job-related stressors

• They have more time to do activities they truly love

• They realize that time is finite and make the most of every moment

• They have more life experience that gives them a profound sense of wisdom

In a nutshell, seventy-somethings have nothing left to prove, have fewer work-related worries and are relieved of childcare responsibilities. They have free time to do whatever makes them happy, like volunteering, gardening, reading, travelling, learning or socializing.

Indeed, various factors can detract from this rosy picture, such as health issues, loneliness or financial difficulties. Therefore, don’t wait until your 70th birthday to start taking care of your health and cultivating friendships. Also, talk to a financial advisor for help creating a retirement nest egg.

Benefits of stretching

As you age, regular stretching provides numerous health bene fits and when com bined with other types of exercise, it can add years to your life. Here are five reasons to regularly stretch.

1. IMPROVE FLEX IBILITY

As you age, your mus cles shorten and lose elasticity. Stretching keeps you flexible and helps you maintain your mobility.

2. AVERT INJURIES

Stretching improves your balance and strength, which can reduce your risk of falling. This will like ly help you feel more confident when moving around and performing your daily tasks.

3. BOOST BLOOD CIRCULATION

Stretching stimu lates blood flow and increases the oxygen supply to your muscles.

4. PREVENT DIS EASES

Maintaining an active lifestyle and stretching regularly can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

5. REDUCE SORE

What’s a continuing care retirement community?

Are you considering a visit to a seniors’ resi dence or retirement home in anticipation of a move for yourself or your loved ones? Have you considered a con tinuing care retirement community? Here’s what you need to know.

The concept

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are character ized by an ability to adapt from independent living and assisted liv ing to memory care and nursing home services. It allows the residents to age in place, with sup ports varying according to their shifting levels of mobility and auton omy. The accessibil ity options may be in a single building or in a complex depending on the establishment.

The advantages

CCRCs provide resi dents with plenty of flexibility and allow for adaptive support to meet

them wherever they are on life’s journey. It ensures long-term care by enabling occupants to stay in the same facil ity even as their health and abilities decline. In conventional senior care, the resident must change institutions as they lose their auton omy, further complicat ing their condition. The consistency provided by CCRCs minimizes this disruption.

NESS

Stretching can help minimize aches and pains. Ask a health professional for ad vice on which exercises to perform to

target specific areas of your body.

To reap these bene fits, make it a habit to stretch at least sever al times a week or as much as every day.

Continued from Page A10 say.

“We met a lot of good people. I had a young fella working for me that’s now an extremely high-ranking officer in Ottawa. You like to see those careers develop and think that maybe you had just a little bit of influence to get him or her to that position.”

Though Rawlick believes it’s harder to be an RCMP Officer with the current state of the world, he still appreci ates the time he spent with the force.

“I was privileged to have a job like this – I was proud to be a member of the RCMP. In my day we were the police force of choice, we were probably world renowned.”

“I think it’s changed;

I think it’s harder now to be an RCMP...I think society has changed dra matically – that respect for police isn’t as great as it used to be.”

“The thing that’s very strange is you don’t see many single RCMP nowa days – most of them are married,” said Rawlick, noting you had to be sin gle for five years when new to the job hence recruits were “really committed to the force.”

“And in my time we never had ladies in the force...everybody thought that it was going to be the fall of the force [when they came]—but I’ll tell you that was not the case—the ladies are the RCMP and they’re a valu able part of the RCMP and a lot of male mem

bers could be well-guid ed by how they conduct themselves.”

Rawlick said that after retiring from the RCMP he spent time working for the Good Spirit School Division as a bus driver and enjoyed driving kids to extra-curricular activ ities.

“There came a time when I said, ‘I don’t want to get up at 6:00 a.m. any more and get into my cold bus and have to ride on icy roads and once my driver’s license expired, I let it go.”

Rawlick said he keeps busy with his seven grandchildren, reading books, watching tele vision and visiting with neighbours. “Enjoying life and being apprecia tive of what I’ve got.”

Toronto Rock expects finals

The Toronto Rock came close to an NLL finals berth in the spring.

Challen Rogers said they are ready to take that final step this season.

Of course last year was a little different as the Rock moved cities, although they maintained the Toronto name, heading to nearby Hamilton.

The move to Hamilton last season was a good one for the team, offered Rogers.

“The move to Hamilton was awesome. It was a huge benefit to our organization,” he said.

Rogers said Hamilton is a good lacrosse commun ity and as such is good for the Rock and the NLL.

“It’s a city the league needs,” he said.

It helps to be centralized in Ontario based on the Rock’s roster.

The Rock are one of those teams where the core of players are relatively local, so there is no need for lengthy flights just to hold preseason practices, so that is a plus, suggested Rogers.

“It’s kind of an advantage we have over some teams. Half the team, if not more are local,” he said.

That has meant players such as Rogers can get together with someone like goaltender Nick Rose around regular 9-to-5 job schedules for some shooting practice between more organized preseason work outs.

That is one aspect of the NLL that makes it differ ent from its larger pro league cousins such as the NBA and NHL, players are still part-time athletes, with real world jobs they must attend as well. For example, Rogers is an athletic director at a training facility. In Rogers case it is a very nice fit as he works with youth athletic programming.

While a clock must be punched by most NLL play ers, on weekends through the NLL season lacrosse is the focus, and Rogers said part way through preseason

CALVIN DANIELS Sports

the Rock are hungry for some redemption in the upcoming season. Last season Toronto was within a whisker of the NLL final before being ousted by Buffalo, with the Bandits then falling to Colorado in the championship final.

This season the Rock fully expect to be in the final, added Rogers.

“We’re looking for the championship,” he said.

The Rock had expected a boost from veteran Chris Corbeil, an off season signing from the Saskatchewan Rush, but an injury has sidelined the rearguard even before the season starts.

“We were looking forward to Chris joining us,” said Rogers, adding it was just not the defence on the floor, but his overall leadership.

Corbeil was also expected to bring that winning edge, having championship rings with the Rush.

Rogers said there is still hope Corbeil might be ready for the playoffs, and if not he is signed to a three-year deal, but in the meantime the Rock have a tough NLL East to manoeuvre through.

That means first and foremost topping Buffalo, long time cross border rivals.

“They’re a team we don’t like very much,” said Rogers, who admitted the Bandits don’t especially

like the Rock either.

And, now with fans able to travel again, well there will be boisterous supporters in both buildings for both teams, which will only intensify the general dis like for one another.

The Bandits haven’t looked sharp in the preseason, but Rogers isn’t making any assumptions from that.

“It’s a preseason loss. I don’t put a lot of onus on that,” he said.

Of course handicapping the NLL gets harder every year as the league goes through a growth spurt, this year adding the Las Vegas Desert Dogs in the west.

“It’s great to see,” said Rogers, adding when he thinks about the NLL of his youth and what it looks like today 15 years down the line, it has grown signifi cantly and that is huge for the sport.

“To see where the league is is amazing. It’s a great time to be in the league.”

It helps to the league has owners like multi million aire Joe Tsai joining NHL Superstar Wayne Gretzky plus Dustin Johnson and Steve Nash as co-owners in Vegas.

“He’s (Tsai) got some deep pockets,” said Rogers, adding it is a positive just to “see his vision for lacrosse. . . He will help with the growth of the sport.”

But, right now Rogers said it’s all about the season ahead for the Rock.

“We think we should be favourites,” he said, add ing even looking back at last season we were right there. It’s a case of the Rock staying focused “on what makes us tough, and what makes us have success.

“We think we have the team that can win it all . . . We’re a confident group of guys.”

The Rock start their 2022-2023 regular season host ing Vancouver Dec. 3.

Riley recognized by Canoe Kayak Canada

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

Jessica Riley has been involved with the Yorkton Canoe and Kayak Club for 15 years.

That dedication was recently marked by Canoe Kayak Canada, (CKC), when the national organization announced its 2022 recipients of the Club Development Award and Coach Developer Award, and Riley took home the hon our.

The CKC awards are presented on an annual basis to coaches and club

leaders who have made significant achievements in their communities.

This year, 16 coaches were nominated and the winners of this year’s awards were announced during the 2022 CKC Annual Summit.

In a release it was noted, “Riley has had a

Canoe and Kayak Club is a thriving commun ity-based club that has regained its foothold as a training facility with high performance ath letes who train year around. By developing and coaching a diverse range of competitive, rec reational, and adaptive

thing.”

With 16 nominees, Riley said there were many deserving people up for the awards.

“There are so many great coaches across Canada,” she said, add ing with that in mind just to be nominated was great.

Riley said with so many coaches doing so many great things across the country, she was “truly honoured,” to have been presented the award.

The award was also something which Riley said gave her a reason to pause and reflect on the work she has done in the past 15 years.

When Riley took the helm as the head coach of the Yorkton club in

2008 there were only four members, noted a CKC release.

“Through hard work and innovation Riley has steadily increased mem bership and last year offered diverse program ming to over 500 par ticipants. She has also developed a strong com petitive program along the way.”

In 2022, Elia Bolme, one of Riley’s local athletes was selected to Team Sask for the Niagara Canada Games. This was a major mile stone for the club.

As a staff mem ber with Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan, Riley’s work focuses on grass roots development, noted the release. Prior to join ing the organization as

staff, Riley volunteered her time to mentor other clubs and coach es. She has also been very involved with the Canada Games, Western Canada Games and Saskatchewan Games programs.

Riley currently splits her time between New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, working in Yorkton from May to November and virtually in the off-season.

Terriers win and lose in weekend games

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

YORKTON – The Yorkton Terriers hosted the Kindersley Klippers at Westland Arena on the evening of the Nov. 25, securing an overtime win.

The Klippers put themsevles on the board early in the first with goals from Jaydon Jessiman at 2:10 and Ethan Scriven at 4:49, with Scriven’s goal being the result of a power play effort. The Terriers’ Clay Sleeva put the team back in the game, hitting the target at 10:54 and again at 19:38.

The lone goal of the second period came came from the Terriers’ Jackson McDonnel at 11:29, giving the team a one goal lead to start the third.

At just 26 seconds into the third period The Klippers’ Logan Linklater scored to tie the game. The remain der of the period was a stalemate through sev eral power play efforts, forcing the match into overtime.

The Terriers’ Quintin Unreiner scored the win ning goal for the team at 4:31.

Caleb Allen was in net for the win, facing 28 shots.

Cody Jaman was in net for the Klippers, taking on 39 shots and saving 35.

On Nov. 26 the Terriers travelled to Humboldt to face off against the Broncos at Elgar Petersen Arena.

The lone goal of the first period came from the Broncos’ Alec Saretzky at 6:07 of the first on a power play effort.

The Broncos’ Jeter Korte added to the team’s lead, scoring at just 55 seconds into the second period, followed up by another goal from team mate Samuel Marburg at 4:54.

Maddox Amaral scored the lone goal of the third period at 14:27 resulting in a 4-0 loss for the Terriers.

Tysen Smith was in net for the Terriers, tak ing on 50 shots and sav ing 46.

Hayden Dunford was in net for the shutout win, saving 29 shots.

The Terriers will head to Weyburn on Nov. 29 to face off against the Red Wings and will visit Melfort on Dec. 2 to play the Mustangs before returning to home ice on Dec. 3 to host the Flin Flon Bombers.

Jessica Riley

Christmas Parade

Cars

lined

down Broadway to take in the sights and sounds of the Santa Claus Parade at the grounds of the Gallagher Centre. The reverse parade was organized by the Yorkton Business Improvement District and featured floats from various city businesses and organizations. Staff Photos by Tyson Off

POWELL - With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Jack Evan Powell, husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. Jack was predeceased by his father Mansel, his mother Bernice, his brother in infancy John, and his father-in-law Don McLean. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Carrie, his daughters Krista Powell and Melanie (Kris) Molnar, his son Evan Powell (Jenna) and his grandchildren Rory, Jaxon, and Ryker. His sisters Gloria Powell Smith (Bryce) and Sandra (Bill) Gulka. His mother-in-law Mary McLean, brothers in law Daryl (Shirley) McLean and Lyndon (Brook) McLean, sisters in law Bev McLean, Donna (Logan) Pittman, and many nieces, nephews, and good friends. Jack was born on August 23, 1952 in Yorkton to Mansel and Bernice (Smithson) Powell. He grew up in Ebenezer where he attended school and later on the Composite and Regional in Yorkton. Following school he worked for the Metropolitan stores in Weyburn, North Battleford, and Brandon until he joined Powell Lumber and Hardware with his father. He helped his father grow the business which would later become Powell Fertilizers and Chemicals, serving customers in Ebenezer, Yorkton, and surrounding areas for many years. He would get up early and stay late into the evening to help his customers get what was needed for their next day. He enjoyed every minute of it, especially meeting and visiting with anyone who came through his office doors over the 30 years. While in business Jack also joined the Board of Directors of the Yorkton Credit Union, later known as Cornerstone Credit Union. He was very passionate about this position and very proud to say that he continued as a director for 25 years until September of this year. He met and worked with so many wonderful people over the years. Jack married his wife Carrie on October 7, 1989. Together they raised their 3 children in Ebenezer and later on they moved to an acreage near Good Spirit Lake. They enjoyed many years of roads trips, fishing trips to Jan Lake, ski trips and adventures in Disneyworld, Hawaii, and Mexico. Besides his family, Jack had many more joys in his life. He loved everything outdoors. From playing ball and broomball to golfing, hunting, snowmobiling, fishing, and later on gardening. He loved it all. Jack enjoyed many golf games and holidays with good friends. Carrie took up golfing just to get in on the fun. Hunting moose with his friends every fall was a must do even if hunting week was on his wedding anniversary. Snowmobiling in the winter was always a great adventure for him whether it was cold or not. Many trips and many kilometers were put on sleds over the course of many years. His love for fishing started at a young age going to Jan Lake with the Powell family and continued as he took his own kids to fish with his cousins. The fishing continued with trips to the west coast, Deschambault Lake, and even in Mexico. It even led to Jack buying a share of Camp Grayling, a fly in fishing camp at Black Lake. A funeral service was held Friday, November 25, 2022 at 10:30 am from the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Ebenezer, SK., with Rev. Kendall Buhler and Rev. Rick Gibson officiating. The eulogist was Sandy Gulka, and pallbearers were Dave Rohatynsky, Rod Wegner, Bill Gulka, Daryl McLean, Bryan Furber and Blake Frederickson. Honourary Pallbearers were Bob MacDonald, Ray Dorn, Barry Bradshaw, Hamid Zanidean, and Harold Kriger. Interment followed in the Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery, Ebenezer, SK with a time of fellowship and refreshment in the church hall following the service. If family or friends so desire, memorial donations may be made in Jack’s memory to the Ebenezer Baptist Church.

DUBNYK - Violet Dubnyk, age 83, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, the evening of November 3, 2022, in her home at the Evergreen Seniors Home in Campbell River, BC. Violet was born on September 8, 1939 to parents Nick and Mary Ninowski of the Calder/Wroxton district. On July 14, 1957, Violet married Albert Dubnyk. They began their marriage living in Yorkton until 1959 when they moved north of Wroxton to the family farm where Albert grew up. Soon after, they welcomed their children Clayton and Tracy. Violet stayed home raising their young family and committed her time to the farm operation, sewing, gardening, canning, raising chickens, livestock and pets. She assisted Albert with many aspects of their farming operation including hauling grain until all hours of the night and preparing and delivering meals during seeding and harvest. There wasn’t a job Violet couldn’t do on the farm and she always had an immaculate yard that all visitors admired. Without hesitation, she could always cook up a meal for visitors. In addition to her many specialties, Violet was a committed member of the Wroxton Recreation Board for many years where she held positions on the Board and fundraised numerous hours working bingos and catering events. Violet also was an avid bowler in Kamsack and the Yorkton Bowling league for many years. She worked at the lunch counter at the Wroxton Auction Centre and Yorkton Auction for several years, where she was famously known for her egg salad sandwiches. After Albert passed away in 2003, Violet sold the family farm and she moved to Yorkton in 2004 where she continued to make new friends and cared for her inherited furry best friend, Boomer. When most were retiring, for several years Violet continued to garden, work part-time at Yorkton Auction and at Pennington’s clothing store. When Violet wasn’t keeping herself busy working, she was an avid sports fan following the Toronto Blue Jays, watching curling and following the Yorkton Terriers, where she spent countless evenings cheering on her grandson, Sheldon Dubnyk. Violet was a very proud grandmother of her three grandchildren; Sheldon, Jessy and Tara. Violet was nothing short of their number one fan throughout all their various sports activities and academic achievements. As her grandchildren grew older, great grandchildren, Skylar and Savannah Dubnyk, extended the family and brought Violet so much joy. Unfortunately, Violet’s health declined in 2019 and she moved into the Yorkton Crossing until July 2022 when she decided to relocate to Campbell River, BC, to be near her daughter Tracy. It was on Vancouver Island that showed she still had a spirit for adventure where she acquired an appreciation for the Island. Although she was a true prairie person, it didn’t take her long to be drawn to the beauty of ocean, to enjoy the seawall strolls along the ocean in Campbell River and attend the beaches along the way. Violet was predeceased by her parents, her husband Albert, parents-in-law Matt and Daisy Dubnyk, brother Ross Ninowski, and sister Shirley Halyk. She is survived by her daughter Tracy Dubnyk (Paul) of Comox BC, her son Clayton Dubnyk (Heidi) of Drayton Valley AB, daughter-in-law Penny Dubnyk (Perry) of Saskatoon, grandson Sheldon Dubnyk (Tara-Lee) of Yorkton, granddaughter Jessica Dubnyk of Bellevue AB, granddaughter Tara Dubnyk (Tyler) of Victoria, great granddaughters Skylar and Savannah Dubnyk of Yorkton, in-laws Gordon Halyk of Yorkton, Mervin and Edna Dubnyk of Regina and Diane and Harold Molina of Coquitlam BC along with numerous nieces and nephews and special friends. Special thank you to the care teams at the Yorkton Crossing and Evergreen Seniors Home for the care and special bond you had with mom and understanding her humor and wit. Special thank you to Dr. Robert Ramsey and nurses Heather, Chelsea and Karena of Evergreen for your kindness and compassion. A Celebration of Life will be held at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre, Yorkton SK on May 6, 2023 at 3 pm. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.baileysfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey’s Funeral Home.

grade 10 piano

Royal Conservatory of Music. Following graduation, Melita attended Wascana Nursing Institute and obtained her RN in 1978. She was employed at St. Peter’s Hospital in Melville. On June 16, 1979 she married Richard Benko. They were blessed with a daughter, Katherine on April 13, 1987 then a son, Mark on January 26, 1989 and another daughter, Brandi on January 2 1991. Melita then continued her nursing career at the Yorkton Regional Hospital till 1992. She decided at this time that she would farm along with Richard and stay at home to raise her children. In those years she also taught piano and organ lessons. She also enjoyed playing the organ for St. Mary’s church. Her other passions included sewing for her children, baking and playing the piano and organ as much as possible in her spare time. She enjoyed many family vacations and outings with her family where many great memories were made together. Melita also found great joy in gardening and grew a plentiful garden every summer. She helped with hauling the grain and making meals each harvest. Her greatest joys were her children and nothing brought her greater joy than her three children and most recently her two grandsons’, Braxton and Brody. She adored them and enjoyed sharing her sewing skills in making them numerous blankets and pillows. Melita had a big heart and was a kind and loving person that always wanted the best for everyone she knew and she will be missed by many. Melita was predeceased by her father Andrew Dreger in 1984, her mother Susan Dreger in 2011, her infant niece Angela Dreger in 1991, her sister-in-law Sharon Dreger in 2009, and her father-in-law Nick Benko in 2012. She is survived by her husband Richard of 43 years, children Katherine (Justin) Conrad and their children Braxton and Brody, Mark (Natasha) Benko, Brandi (Matthew) Benko, mother-in-law Eleanor Benko, brother John Dreger, David (Chris) Dreger, Jason (Bev) Dreger and her twin sister Marita (Michael) Smylie, sister-in-law Sylvia (Don) Lautner, brother in law’s David Benko and Bradley (Debbie) Benko, as well as many numerous nieces and nephews. Prayers were held on Sunday, November 27th and the Funeral Liturgy on Monday, November 28th, at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton with Rev. Father Leonid Malkov, C.Ss.R. as the Celebrant. The responses were led by Ron Wizniak and Laurie Fedorowich, assisted by choir members. The cross bearer was Ryan Lautner and the epistle reader was Bev Dreger. The interment followed in the Garden of St. Luke at Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Glenn Lang, Justin Conrad, Anthony Chambers, Eddy Dreger, Randy Kruda and Jordan Dreger serving as the casket bearers. Memorials in memory of Melita may be made to St. Mary’s Church Building Fund as gifts of remembrance. Condolences to the family can be posted at baileysfuneralhome.com

LANGLEY - Marjorie Victoria Langley (daughter of Victor and Maggie - nee Kutcher) passed away peacefully at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre on Thursday, November 17, 2022.

Marjorie was born on a small family farm just outside of Springside on November 20, 1933. She attended the Springside School where she excelled in her studies. Following her graduation, and the passing of her mother in 1953, Marjorie stayed on the family farm to help raise her younger siblings: Gerald, Carol and Ellen. In 1955 she married Mervin (predeceased in 2005) and resided in Springside. In 1956 they started their family: Robbie (1956), Gary (1957), Blair (1958), Terrence (1960), David (1961) and Mona (1963). In 1967 they took over the family farm from Mervin’s Dad (Albert). Marjorie worked tirelessly on the farm; she raised chickens and planted a huge garden every year, as well as raising the kids. She sold eggs to many neighbours, as well as the cream from dairy cows. From the sale of the eggs and cream she helped to provide for groceries, school supplies, clothing for her family and other necessities. In the mid 1990s Marjorie moved to Springside. She actively volunteered with the UCW, the Legion and the Senior’s Drop-In Centre. Marjorie generously donated to many charities, some of which included: Telemiracle, Salvation Army, Yorkton Health Foundation, Springside Cemetery Fund and many, many more. Marjorie was a lifetime member of the NDP, supporting the party with donations and volunteering her time. Due to health issues, Marjorie became a resident of the Yorkton Nursing Home in 2019 and resided there until her passing. Marjorie was predeceased by her parents, her husband Mervin, her brother Gerald, brothers-in-law Melvin and Gordon, sister-in-law Phyllis, and daughter-inlaw Linda. Marjorie is survived by sisters Carol and Ellen (Vic), sister-inlaw Leona (Elwood), and children Robbie, Gary (Anne), Blair (Judy), Terrence, David (Coreen) and Mona (Keith). She also leaves to mourn her grandchildren: Billy (Nikki), Lori, Theresa (Jay), Timothy; Brock (Olivia), Ashley; Amanda (Steve), Callahan (Trinda); Chellan, Brent; Laura and Kevin; as well as numerous great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of: Yorkton & District Nursing Home, Yorkton Regional Health Centre and Christie’s Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the aforementioned charities or a charity of your choice. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

BENKO - The family of Melita Benko of the Willowbrook district, beloved wife of Richard Benko sadly announce her passing on November 21. Melita was born in Yorkton, SK on March 4 1958 to Andrew and Susan (Stobbe) Dreger. She attended Ebenezer Elementary School for grades one to six then the Composite for grades seven to nine. She graduated from the Yorkton Regional High School in 1976, during this time she also completed her

from the

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Dec. 2, 1917 - Dec. 31, 2012.

In Heaven.

We missed you today We will miss you tomorrow. Tears in our eyes And a heart full of sorrow. We hold on to the memories of the great times we had. We grieve for what we have lost But we are grateful for what we had.

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The kitchen features an L-shaped counter configuration that will save steps for the cook and is separated from the great room by a change in ceil-

ing height. The dining area includes an optional built-out buffet, always welcome when guests come to dinner.

The great room and dining area open through sliding glass doors to a covered deck that looks out to the back, an ideal spot for al fresco meals.

The roomy master suite also looks out to the back It includes a threepiece ensuite, as well as a walk-in closet.

The second bedroom is tucked in between the double garage and the laundry room and is served by a three-piece bathroom adjacent to the third bedroom or den.

The two-vehicle garage is located near the front entrance and enjoys access through the laundry room.

Exterior finishes include painted horizontal siding with brick

accents and wood trim. This home measures 38 feet wide and 60 feet, eight inches deep, for a total of 1,341 square feet, not including the unfinished basement.

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Jean Sakundiak

at Cameco’s McArthur River

Mine and Key Lake Mill

Submitted

Saskatchewan-based Cameco Corporation has resumed production from its McArthur River mine and Key Lake mill facilities, with Premier Scott Moe and MLA Jim Lemaigre in attendance to celebrate with employ ees and northern leaders. After announcing plans earlier this year to restart operations, Cameco recently announced that the first pounds of uran ium ore were mined, then milled and packaged for distribution.

“The announcement by Cameco to resume pro duction at its McArthur River mine and Key Lake mill further positions Saskatchewan as a critic al and sustainable sup plier of fuel and resour ces the world needs,” Premier Scott Moe said. “Congratulations to Cameco on this achieve ment and for providing over 700 jobs to our prov ince’s northerners.”

The mine and mill cur rently employ approxi mately 730 people, more than half of which are of Indigenous heritage. Cameco is planning addi tional hiring for the sites going forward and is striv

ing for a year-end work force that has a higher representation of women and Indigenous people than from pre-shutdown levels.

“Cameco is a leader in Indigenous engagement and involvement, provid ing vital opportunities and partnerships with members in our commun ities,” MLA for Athabasca Jim Lemaigre said. “The resumption of operations at McArthur River and Key Lake is great news for Northern Saskatchewan, from employment to pro curement. I look forward to further engaging with Cameco regarding their future in Saskatchewan’s north.”

Saskatchewan was the third-largest global producer of uranium in 2021 and the outlook is very strong for 2022, with interest having increased considerably over the past year as countries are seeking safe, reliable and clean energy prod ucts. Offering a stable and secure environment, Saskatchewan is a lead er in critical mineral production, and second among mining invest ment attractiveness in the world according to the 2021 Fraser Institute

Annual Survey of Mining Companies.

“We are delighted to have McArthur River and Key Lake back in pro duction. Having these two operations up and running allows us to pro vide hundreds of jobs to northern Saskatchewan, brings back business to our valued northern suppliers and results in increased investment and economic activity in

surrounding commun ities,” Cameco President and CEO Tim Gitzel said. “It also means more Saskatchewan uranium powering clean nuclear energy here in Canada and around the world. This is a win all around – for Cameco and our workers, for our north ern partners, for our cus tomers and for the entire province.”

The Government of

Saskatchewan continues to look at the develop ment of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) tech nology, as laid out in Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan, to be fueled by Saskatchewan uranium. As Saskatchewan looks to provide families and businesses with safe and reliable baseload power, energy security remains a top priority for the provincial government.

Saskatchewan uran ium sales year-to-date are $717 million, up over 120 per cent from 2021. With the restart of the McArthur River mine and Key Lake mill and numerous promising projects progressing, the Saskatchewan uranium sector is on track to meet the Provincial Growth Plan goal of achieving $2 billion in annual uran ium sales by 2030.

Farm equipment market adjusting to economic environment

Submitted by Farm Credit Canada

REGINA – Strong demand for farm equip ment is expected to continue in 2023, as the market weathers ris ing interest rates and a weakening Canadian dol lar, according to Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC)

farm equipment market outlook.

“Producers will benefit from strategic planning as inventory levels for farm equip ment remain below prepandemic levels, some thing we expect could continue through 2024.” said J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief economist, noting

tractor inventory levels are down 42 per cent and combines are down 47 per cent from the five-year average. “This equipment demand is supported by strong farm cash receipts, while inventory is hampered by the supply chain dis ruptions we saw over the past two years.”

The used equip ment market has seen increased demand because of the pandemicrelated shutdowns. With limited availability of new equipment and parts, producers were adapting by having additional used equipment available for parts if needed.

Equipment manufac turers are expected to increase production of new equipment due to the changing economic environment providing the opportunity for infla tionary pressures in the used equipment market to moderate.

As for new equipment, the Canadian dollar has a direct impact on equip ment prices.

“Most new tractors and combines sold in Canada are manufac tured south of the border, so an expected deprecia

Producers will benefit from strategic plan ning as inventory levels for farm equipment remain below pre-pandemic levels, something we expect could continue through 2024, — J.P. Gervais, FCC’s Chief Economist

tion of the loonie through 2023 should lead to price increases on farm machinery,” Gervais explained. “This is also the result of inflationary pressures in the supply chain that occurred in the last half of 2022.”

While the depreciat ing loonie makes new tractors and combines more expensive, pro ducers can take some solace in the fact that a depreciating loonie also has a positive effect on farm commodities des tined for export.

Strong commodity prices will continue to support the demand for farm equipment, offset ting the impact of higher interest rates and a lower Canadian dollar. The used equipment market is expected to stay robust for most of 2023 and into 2024.

Farm equipment sales

for 2023 are projected higher for high horsepowered (HP) tractors, combines, and imple ment sales driven by strong crop receipts:

100+ HP tractor sales to rise 8.7 per cent

4WD tractor sales to rise 13.9 per cent Combine sales to rise 19.3 per cent Canadian agricultural implement manufactur ing to rise 32.2 per cent

However, small HP tractor sales, which are largely driven by the health of the Canadian economy, are expected to slow in 2023:

Less than 40 HP trac tor sales to decline 0.4 per cent 40 – 100 HP tractor sales to rise 0.4 per cent

By sharing economic knowledge and fore casts, FCC provides solid insights and expertise to help those in the business

of agriculture and food achieve their goals. For more economic insights and analysis on the top trends to watch for in Canada’s agriculture and food industry in 2022, visit FCC Economics at fcc.ca/Economics.

FCC is Canada’s lead ing agriculture and food lender, with a healthy loan portfolio of more than $44 billion. Our employees are dedicated to the future of Canadian agriculture and food. We provide flexible finan cing, AgExpert manage ment software, infor mation and knowledge specifically designed for the agriculture and food industry. As a Crown cor poration, we provide an appropriate return to our shareholder, and reinvest our profits back into the industry and commun ities we serve. For more information, visit fcc.ca.

Photo by Cameco Corporation

“She should have pink cheeks, and red lips. And Nana? This is very important. GREEN eyes and black hair.”

I dug muslin from my fabric stash and Lois and I set to work on her birthday doll. Gripping the pencil tightly, she traced around the card board patterns. Pieces cut, I pinned and sewed the pairs together, front to back. She pulled out pins and prattled, her creative mind whirl ing. Before the toy was even completed, she knew its story. She told me what the doll would wear, how nicely she would get along with her “sister” dolls, and how gently she would treat her.

“What will you name her?”

Lois thought a moment. “Mary. That’s a nice name, isn’t it Nana?” She didn’t know any Marys, she said. And she didn’t have a doll named that.

“It’s a lovely name,” I said. And so Mary’s story began. “We won’t finish her today, Hon,” I warned her. “Maybe not even for your birthday.”

“That’s ok, Nana,” she said. “You can fin ish her without me.”

I gulped. Four days till the special day. Four days that included other chores and com mitments.

At almost midnight the day before the birthday, I knew I’d

KATHLEEN GIBSON

Side Up

miss the deadline. I’d assembled the doll’s separate pieces, paint ed her face and added stuffing. But the black chenille I’d chosen for hair proved difficult to work with. Every strand would need to be insert ed separately. I rubbed my eyes and yawned.

“Lord,” I prayed, feeling a little silly.

Cactuses at Christmas

Just for a moment, let’s imagine ourselves in Brazil, a group of gar deners. Maybe we have just had pao na chapa, toasted rolls, with a glass of pingado, sweetened coffee with warm milk. Fortified, we’re ready for a hike! As we start walk ing, we’re taking note of the plants, of course, and one that we would likely see is the schlumbergera. We’d be amazed that what we baby along as a houseplant here actually grows wild there.

What plant are we talking about?

We all know it as the Christmas cactus, a plant that is much beloved by gardeners at this time of year! This beautiful suc culent gifts us with exotic looking blooms of pink, white, or red, and is an easy-care plant.

I was looking in one of Mom’s garden ing books, the “house plants” book from American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening. It’s easy to find so much information online, but I still enjoy looking at a book. There is something about hold ing the book in our hands and thumbing through the pages, isn’t there! Anyway, the book says that cool nights and short days will help the plant bring on more buds.

Let’s chat about this for a moment. The book said that plants are programmed to need a certain amount of light or darkness to be able to bloom. Some plants, like hibiscus, like to bask in the light for a long period each day, as much as fourteen hours or more. Other plants, like the Christmas cac tus, prefer less light. These are called “shortday” plants, and they won’t produce buds unless they get at least fourteen hours of dark ness. Chrysanthemum and kalanchoe are also “short-day” plants.

Is the Christmas cac tus actually a cactus?

Gardener’s Notebook DEBBIE HAYWARD

Not really, it is a suc culent, and that plant family stores water in the leaves. So it is not as tolerant of dry spells as a true cactus would be. It likes bright, indirect sun, and some humidity, but never wet feet. And remember, it does need about six weeks of dark, around 14 hours daily, to get those buds started. It likes to be cozy and can stay in the same pot for several years. One more amazing factoid, the plants can live for decades!

Propagation is easy: just tuck a leaf segment into the soil. Some books say that we can use a rooting powder to make things easier, but this isn’t necessary. I recall that one of my aunties would just break off seg ments of the plant, poke them into the soil, and they always seemed to take!

And yes, Virginia, there is a Christmas cac tus, but there is also a Thanksgiving cactus. The names refer to the time when the plants bloom, but they are also different plants. The Thanksgiving cactus, which is Schlumbergera truncata has points on the leaves, while the Christmas cactus Schlumbergera rus selliana has rounder and smoother leaves. If you are pondering what kind of plant you have, Christmas or Thanksgiving, I read that the color of the pol len will tell: yellow for a Thanksgiving cactus, pink for a Christmas cac tus.

Either way, these are

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lovely plants that we associate with the holi day season, and they will reward us with many years of beauty with min imal care.

Thank you to our friends at YTW for their fine work each and every week, bringing us local news. Visit the hort soci ety at www.yorktonhort. ca and have a great week!

“Lois is counting on this doll. Can you show me how to attach this hair—and in time? Then I went to bed, knowing I’d rise early.

When Lois visited the next morning, Mary was complete except for her sweater. I finished that as my granddaugh ter watched, bouncing in anticipation. “She’s

PERFECT, Nana.” She clutched the doll tight. “Except she’s cold. She needs that sweater.”

As only a creator can, I know the characters I create intimately. They endear me. I celebrate each difference and declare the finished creation beautiful, even when no one else may.

Perhaps that’s because as I work, I ponder often how God created me. You. Lois. Every child ever conceived.

Psalm 139: 13-18 reveals its author’s similar ponderings.

“For you (God) created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fear fully and wonderfully

made… My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand...NIV”.

God planned the miracle that is you from eons before your birth. He knows you intimate ly and loves you com pletely. You are in his thoughts always. Don’t hide from that love.

a.m.

Popular Seuss feature in upcoming performance

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

SaskExpress is bringing its produc tion of Seussical to Yorkton.

Seussical is a musical comedy by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, based on the many children’s stories of Dr. Seuss.

It’s basically Horton Hears a Who with a bunch of other Seuss characters mixed in,” said Elizabeth Bishop one of the performers. She added that other familiar ‘faces’ in the show include the famed Cat in the Hat narrating.

Bishop said the show is “quite out there” in terms of staging, adding it is “quite extravagant,” with the crew doing lots of quirky things in terms of props to bring the show to life.

Bishop noted that SaskExpress gen

erally has a Christmas-themed show at this time of year, so Seussical is a little different, although The Grinch does have a cameo.

The show is certainly a familythemed one, and should bring smiles to children who will know the characters well.

As noted Bishop, who helps with back drop design in addition to her on stage roles, is from Kamsack. The 19-year-old joined SaskExpress in 2017. The spot with the long-running troupe dovetails nicely for Bishop who is pur suing her BA in theatre acting.

In addition to the Yorkton show Dec. 13, at the Anne Portnuff Theatre it will be in Weyburn Dec. 15, Moose Jaw Dec. 16, as well as shows in Regina over eight days.

Expect to see roadside impaired checkstops this holiday season

Saskatchewan driv ers will notice an abun dance of impaired driv ing checkstops across the province throughout the holiday season.

“Checkstops are an important enforcement tool and a highly vis ual reminder to driv ers about the import ance of planning a safe ride home,” Minister Responsible for SGI Don Morgan said. “Impaired driving is a persistent and deadly problem

in Saskatchewan, and it requires creative solutions and ongoing enforcement. SGI is providing additional funding to police agen cies to conduct more than 40 checkstops this December in order to keep our roads safe.”

Checkstops can occur any day of the week, on a municipal street, in a city, in a town or on a highway. Police also use less conspicuous tactics to catch impaired driv

ers, and the public is encouraged to call 9-1-1 to report any motorists they believe are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bottom line is this: if you drive impaired any where in Saskatchewan, there is a strong chance you’ll be caught, arrested and charged.

Roadside alcohol screening

Under federal legis lation, specifically Bill C-46, which took effect

in 2018 - police can legal ly demand a roadside breath test for alcohol from anyone they legal ly stop. A trained offi cer will make a formal demand that someone provide a breath sam ple into an approved screening device. There is no requirement for reasonable suspicion for the officer to make a demand. People who refuse a test can be charged with a Criminal Code offence, with pen

alties that are the same or greater than those for impaired driving convic tions. If you’re not driv ing impaired, the breath test just takes a matter of seconds, and drivers who pass are on their way quickly.

“We appreciate the co-operation of driv ers who may be pulled over for our checkstops,” Officer in Charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Traffic Services Division Supt. Grant St. Germaine

Burning rubber, burning money

to the road conditions.

said. “Please be assured that a demand for a breath sample is not an accusation; it’s simply standard procedure to help ensure that people are driving sober. We use all the tools we have at our disposal to try to keep our roads safe - roadside breath tests being one of them.”

Drivers are reminded to only drive if they are sober, and to find a safe ride home when they’re impaired.

There was no checkered flag waiting for the 5,175 Saskatchewan drivers who were caught speeding last month. Instead, those who had a heavy foot were greeted with an expensive ticket from police.

Results from the October Traffic Safety Spotlight revealed 5,175 tickets* were issued for various speed ing and aggressive driving offences last month. Among them were numerous tickets issued for some of the more egregious – and expensive – offences:

· 243 tickets issued for exceeding the speed limit by greater than 35 km/h (tickets start at $538);

· 54 tickets for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h (tickets start at $809, and comes with a seven-day vehicle impoundment);

· 151 tickets for speeding in a school zone; and,

· 286 tickets for exceeding 60 km/h when passing an

emergency vehicle, tow truck or highway worker.

There were also 16 tickets issued for stunting and one ticket for street racing.

Thanks to the new penalties for stunting and street racing that were introduced Oct. 1, tickets for those offences are $580, plus four demerits. (Street racing also comes with a 30-day vehicle impoundment, and the ticket costs escalate for repeat offences.)

Excessive speed is one the leading factors in traffic-related deaths and injuries on Saskatchewan’s roads: in 2021, there were 1,263 collisions in which speed was one of the contributing factors, resulting in 554 injuries and 20 deaths.

Posted speed limits are not suggestions. With snow and ice covering many of Saskatchewan’s roads and highways, it’s critical that drivers slow down to adjust

Other results from the October Traffic Safety Spotlight included:

· 484 impaired driving offences, including 283 Criminal Code Charges;

· 352 tickets for people not wearing a seatbelt, or not using the appropriate car seat or booster; and,

· 779 distracted driving tickets, including 664 for using a mobile device.

Along with obeying speed limits, always be sure to drive sober, buckle up and keep your attention on the road.

Follow SGI’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for more information.

*Numbers do not include tickets issued via photo speed enforcement.