February 17, 2026 Camrose Booster

Rohith Pradeep (Community Helpers Program Coordinator), Rebecca Fisher-Marks (Youth Navigator) and Amy Cardinal (Program Lead, Community Wellness and Support Programs) proudly wear the official Coldest Night of the Year toques –a special thank you gift presented to youth and adults who raise $75 or $150 during the annual winter fundraising walk.

The Open Doors in Camrose supports youth, individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity, poverty and social isolation Through a range of programs and services, the organization works to promote safety, connection and long-term stability for vulnerable members of the community

Coldest Night of the Year, a family-friendly fundraising walk taking place February 28 around Mirror Lake, helps generate critical funds to sustain these services Organizers have set a goal of raising $20,000 this year and are also seeking volunteers to assist with the event

For more information, to register as a walker, create a team, fundraise or volunteer, contact The Open Doors at 780 679 6803 or scan the QR code here

by

Wild Women and Just Water

By Adan Shaikh

Chester Ronning Centre (CRC) at University of Alberta Augustana Campus held an informative conversation on February 12, bringing together two accomplished scholars in religion, ecology, and ethics, who shared insight into the connections between water, morality, and human responsibility. The public talk was facilitated by Dr. Joseph Wiebe, director of CRC.

The guest speakers joining the conversation were Dr. Kimberly Carfore,

adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco and founder of Wild Women; and Dr. Christiana Zenner, associate professor of theology, science and ethics at Fordham University. Together, they reflected on their professional journeys and explored how women’s leadership, ecological knowledge, and ethical awareness can shape responses to modern environmental challenges. Carfore, who also serves as co-chair of the Religion and Ecology Unit at the American Acad-

emy of Religion and sits on the advisory board for the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University, spoke about her work integrating spirituality, environmental education, and outdoor practice. Carfore explained how she wandered into her field, after a life changing encounter with a copperhead snake. This experience transformed her perspective on the world and spirituality.

Continued on page 6

TOURS & CRUISE HOLIDAYSOURS CRUIS RU

Open for registration

By Nadine Leming

Look outside your window and it still looks like winter, but it’s time to think about registering children for the 2026/27 school year.

In a media release on February 3, Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS) have officially opened registration and is looking forward to welcoming new and returning families to discover the variety of educational opportunities they offer.

They serve students and families from Pre-K to Grade 12 and are devoted to nurturing excellence in their schools.

The essence of EICS is to adhere to developing educational opportunities rooted in Gospel values. The school division values being a Catholic community recognizing each student’s unique gifts and talents and are nurtured through lifelong experiences.

EICS offers a large range of programming aimed to captivate students on a variety of levels that cover language and culture, academic excellence, innovation and creativity and wellness and flexibility.

EICS is part of Alberta’s publicly funded education system that serves more than 9,400 students across the division. It is a place for students to grow and discover who they are as they integrate faith and education.

They believe that every student deserves the opportunity to excel and succeed. To register for the 2026/27 school year, visit their website at www.eics.ab.ca

What did you enjoy most about work ing with your builder?

We worked w ith our builder throughou t the process , s tarting f rom the d esign phase 5 S tar manage d the e xtra sub trade s required for our rural property, such as sep tic replacement and yard electrical, so we didn’ t have to coordinate with other contrac tors

How would you describe the level of customer service you received during and af ter cons truc tion?

Communication during the cons truction phase was e icient , with promp t responses to our inquir ie s . T he builder provided a clear o utline of po st-cons truction care upon pos session.

What are your favour ite features or aspects of your new home?

We love that our home was d esigned for our specif ic needs, with covered porch es , a boot room, energy e iciency lot s of sunlight and personal touche s f rom Val s grandparents that 5 St ar added in for us Our home sui t s us per fectly

CUSTOM BUILDERS

How would you describe the surrounding communit y (e .g., proximit y to parks, transit, shopping, etc.)?

We are conveniently loc ated near park s while possessing a peaceful propert y with ample space, T he communi t y is ver y welcoming and C amrose provide s all the necess ar y ser vices. Do you feel your custom home provided good value for the investment? Absolu tely!

Would you recommend 5 Star Custom Builders to others? What aspec ts would you re commend? We would highly recommend 5 St ar to other s T heir k nowledge and prof iciency enable them to manage rural proper t y cons truction f rom inception to completion. We also appreciate their commi tment to e mploying local subcontrac tors

Any other comments/f eedback regarding the custom build process

or your experiences post-completion? Our suggestion: Take advantage of the ini tial meetings and use the design stage to build the relationship with your builder. Clear communi cation and mutual trust are essential pillars, as you w ill need to discus s your needs and desire s alongside your budget . We found these conversations went smoothly with 5 S tar.

The power of silence I noticed an older-looking couple at a restaurant. They didn’t seem to be saying much. At one time I would have imagined they were bored with each other and thought that was sad. This time I remembered something my mom once said. She mentioned that sometimes when young people see an older couple who don’t appear to say much to each other, younger people think that’s sad. (I was guilty as charged.)

“That’s not what I think at all,” my mom continued. “I think, isn’t that nice? They know each other so well and they’re so comfortable with each other that they don’t need to talk.”

A different perspective.

***

When I returned to school as an adult, one of our teachers, Don Swartz, taught us to “hold the silence, hold the tension.”

Don began his career as a mechanical engineer. He grew into one of the most skilled group facilitators I’ve ever met. One reason might have been that he knew how mechanical things worked – the steps it takes to shape metal into component parts to create a vehicle.

He could also break down the steps it takes for groups of people to go from chaos, confusion and disagreement into moving ahead and getting good things done.

One of Don’s mantras was “hold the tension.”

Often when a group (whether family, work, friends or neighbours) is trying to figure something out, or is wrangling over a decision, there’s a lull in the conversation, and high tension. Some of us might be tempted to try to break the tension; to say something funny or suggest a break.

Don Swartz advised us to “hold the tension” – with silence.

Thirty years later, I have experienced many times when – as Don suggested – holding the tension, holding the silence, created space for a breakthrough. If we try to ease the tension too soon, we may lose the opportunity for a breakthrough.

***

Once during a retreat experience, almost half our time was in silence.

When someone was speaking, the rest of us were encouraged not to comment, but simply to listen deeply and silently. In that supportive silence, many of us had breakthrough understandings. That would not have happened if others had been talking – trying to “help” us with their words.

In silence, sometimes the chatter in your mind stops. Deeper wisdom can be heard. Not just heard but felt. In silence, you can start to feel subtle shifts and signals in your body, your emotions and your thoughts. You can begin to tell the difference between wisdom and mental noise.

***

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard-trained and published neuro-anatomist. After years of treating others, she had a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain. In My Stroke of Insight, she tells what she experienced while having a stroke. Her entire left brain shut down. It took eight gruelling years to recover her abilities to move, eat and speak.

One of many profound things she talks about is the healing power of silence. In a section of advice for caregivers, she tells how excruciating noise was for her. Noise scrambled up her fragile brain. Noise was actually physically painful.

Reading this, I flashed back to experiences in hospitals, medical clinics and once in an ambulance. I thought how her message of the healing power of silence would be a great benefit to all medical professionals and facilities. ***

Ironically, while writing this, I got up to shut the window against the sound of a siren.

We live in noise. We carry noise with us. We fend off silence – and perhaps fend off hearing the wisdom that could be available to us in silence.

I’m going to be silent now! ***

I’d love to hear from you. If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, e-mail Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com. I’ll happily reply within one business day.

Downtown lights

Admittedly, I have lost track of who was the driving force behind the return of the dazzling tree lights to the trees on beautiful Main Street, Camrose, and by the same token, I am not sure who is ultimately in charge of changing the LED colours, or ensuring the lights are strung properly and in peak operating condition, always. The front page of the February 10th Booster reminded me of how valuable these lights are to bring recognition to the community and in particular to our prized downtown core. Each time we head to Main Street, we feel fortunate to be greeted with the appeal of these lights. Well done, Camrose! Al Rostad, Camrose

Receiving flyers

I’m responding to your ad in last week’s Booster, which we look forward to receiving every week. It was very disappointing when we stopped receiving most of the flyers. We feel like the rural community doesn’t seem to matter to some of the businesses. Kudos to the few businesses that do appreciate our business. The bigger stores seem to think that everyone should get the flyers online now, sad that is because not all of us enjoy going online to look for flyers.

Thanks to The Camrose Booster for the few flyers that we still receive.

Rod and Denise Blatz, Bawlf

Response to Pilger’s column

I am writing to comment on Gerald Pilger’s column. He stated his outlook on separation and pointed out many things that are downside in a clear, unambiguous and practical way, mentioning subjects that are glossed over by too many pro-separatists. I wish to point out these are not all the downsides by any means. I could add to it, but for those who do not want to look into the practicalities, my word will mean little.

Much has been pointed out elsewhere. If one does not choose to look into it, that is a pretty cavalier attitude to display to such a potentially serious subject.

Ken J. Sharp, Ladysmith, B.C.

Deciding on Alberta separation If I hope to make an informed, fact-based decision, should there be a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada, there are questions that I would need answers to. Following are some of those questions that keep me up at night:

• Will I need a passport to visit family and friends in Canada?

• Who will pay for establishing the infrastructure and populating the crossing site structures? There will be four borders that would need to be policed.

• What would happen to Lloydminster?

• While we may still be able to participate in the NHL, what happens to the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League?

• If Transport Canada owns the land for our two major airports and sets aviation safety and security standards, would these properties need to be purchased and will it be safe to fly?

• What is the actual amount of dollars that the Canadian Government contributes to the province for shared cost projects such as schools, roadways and hospitals? If we presently rely on federal funding to assist in the construction of these projects, how and who will make up for this lost source of funding?

• Will the Farm Credit Corporation (FCC), a federal crown corporation, be required to call in all the loans of farmers and agri-businesses in this new sovereign state? Since I am part of a farm operation, this is a crucial question, so I looked it up to determine what the impact might be should all the loans need to be paid back. According to FCC’s most recent annual report, FCC serves more than 102,000 customers nationwide and manages a loan portfolio of approximately $54 billion. Of that, roughly $9.6 billion is invested in Alberta alone. Further research revealed that the agrifood sector is a “major economic driver” for the provincial government and contributes over a billion dollars in annual

tax revenue. What will be the impact if FCC loans are called in?

• Will national charities, such as the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, continue to support researchers in our hospitals and will those researchers be able to continue their work here if they don’t have state of the art facilities?

• Will we be forced to get annexed by the United States because we don’t have the money to survive independently?

• Who will be our trading partners and how will we ship our products beyond our borders? Although some may consider my questions trivial and irrelevant, I would appreciate honest, well-researched answers. I am, after all, responsible in part, for the future of this province.

Marj Nahirniak, Camrose County

Thanking the voices of Camrose

We would like to add our support and voices to those of Mr. Lynn Clark and to the group of citizens including Mr. and Mrs. Don and Marie Ruzicka whose letters were printed in the February 3 issue of The Booster. Thank you all for making your points so clearly and allowing those of us less able to do so to ride upon your coat tails.

The alarming rise of Alberta Separatists have put the fate of our Alberta in our Canada to be very concerning. It is causing a great deal of fear for those of us in our mid-eighties.

In any responsible western nation, a leader, especially one who is considered as unstable as the one currently in USA, would be quietly assisted to receive the help he so desperately requires. Instead the Americans laud him and kowtow to him. This certainly questions their motives as well.

The Roman Empire fell, the Third Reich fell, the USSR fell and the wall crashed. The American Empire is rapidly becoming an international pariah state and careening wildly into a huge abyss.

Bonnie

WHO can I count on?

LICENCES and REGISTRIES

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Road tests can be booked through our website at www.camroseregistry.com.

Wild Women and Just Water

Continued from page 2

She’s explored these themes in her various publications, particularly in the chapter “Doing Theology with Snakes: Face to Face with the Wholly Other” from Encountering Earth: Thinking Theologically with a More-than-Human World, edited by Matthew Eaton, Timothy Harvey, and Trevor Bechtel.

Carfore’s nonprofit Wild Women, is a space where she encourages women to reconnect with the natural world using place-based learning, and community dialogue.

She explained that her approach centres on helping people understand their relationship to the environment through direct experience, rather than abstract theory. “When I think about the self, I think about the environment that shaped me. I grew up on Lake Huron in Michigan, where it was about five minutes to the Blue Water Bridge where you can see Ontario. Being close to water, I thought a lot about boundaries,” she shared. “Ecological boundaries are different from nation or state boundaries,” she continued.

Zenner expands on those themes through her research and advocacy in water justice. Her academic work focuses on how ethics, power, and environmental

systems intersect, particularly within the framework of Catholic social teaching, feminist theory, and anticolonial analysis. She is the author of Just Water: Theology, Ethics, and Global Fresh Water Crises and has worked extensively on issues of equitable access to clean water.

Fun fact: one blogger once speculated that Zenner may have influenced the late Pope Francis’ encyclical, because of his environmental views. A story she shared with much pride.

She emphasized that water scarcity and contamination disproportionately affect marginalized communities, making water justice not only an environmental issue, but also a social and moral one.

“I currently live in New York City, which is a very different kind of topography, both in terms of human geography and physical place. When I first moved to the East Coast from the semi-arid west, the plains of Colorado, I remember being completely stunned by the Hudson River and the abundance of lush natural greenness at all times of the year, and it floored me because my understanding of water was one predicated upon scarcity and seasonal rhythms. The Platte River in Colorado, where I grew up, is a tiny trickle,”

she explained, comparing the two rivers in size, and behaviours.

“One of the reasons I came to work on water is that I had long been enthralled by this substance,” added Zenner.

Throughout the discussion, both speakers stressed the importance of ethical leadership and collective responsibility and how it translates into real-worldenvironment.

Zenner reflected on the role water has played in theology, specifically in Abrahamic religions. She shared the story of Hagar, or Hajjar, and how across all three Abrahamic faiths her journey is inseparably bound to water. Through Hagar and Ishmail’s desperate struggle for survival, water emerges as a divine intervention and a sacred gift that transforms despair into deliverance highlighting the essential role water plays in sustaining life.

The event offered a thoughtful examination of how faith, ethics, and ecology intersect, encouraging attendees to consider their own relationship with water and the broader environment. Carfore and Zenner presented a compelling case for rethinking humanity’s connection to the natural world.

through the pages of e Booster

• Mike Kelemen, Publicity Director for the Camrose Kinsmen Club, presented a $1,000 donation to Neighbourhood Youth Centre Executive Director Rees James. The money from the Kinsmen Radio Auction will allow the youth centre to complete the purchase of a new van for its after-school program

• The Auto Shoppe, Ohaton, donated $1,000 in labour required to remove the body from a Chevy Caprice that will carry the Camrose Chamber of Commerce float. Dave Chamberlain, Chair man of the Chamber’s Float Committee, was pictured seated in the naked Chevy while Auto Shoppe owner, Gord Graham, posed beside it.

• Joe Banack, Fundraising Chair man for the Rose City Residential Support Society, presented Patricia Ridgeway of Camrose with two crisp new $100 bills as the winner of the fourth quarter and final score prize in the Society’s Super Bowl Pool. Other prize winners were Helen Vassberg, Halyne Kvale and Ron Magee.

• Upgrading of the Camrose Airport “is definitely scheduled for 1976,” says John Timinski, Superintendent of Planning and Engineering services. The Province of Alberta will reimburse to the City the monies spent to acquire additional land for the project, plus provide $500,000 for the 1976 construction period. Total expenditure for the project, including $100,000 from the Federal Grant, will be $600,000.

• Several members of the Camrose Kinsmen Club were recognized for perfect attendance during the past year(s). Two Kinsmen who topped the list, Gerry Galenza and Cam Jones, each received pins from President Duff Layton for perfect attendance for thirteen years.

• Crawford and Company presented their $200 first prize to Dianna Weinkauf of Camrose in the First Annual Lucky Loser Snowmobile Rally and Bean Feast held on a twenty mile course at and around the Lawrence Ring far m. Mrs. Bob Wennerstrom and her navigator, Pearl Allers picked up second prize in a spectacular feat of endurance. Dale Kruse, the lone male top winner, had to settle for third prize, and is starting to believe in Women’s Lib. Seventy-five or more entrants participated in the event.

TOP GOALTENDER

Submitted

St. Mary’s Hospital received a height adjustable bassinet used for newly born babies. This grant was valued at just under $10,000 and was made possible through the generosity of St. Mary’s Hospital Camrose Foundation. From left, back row, Foundation co-chair John Corbett, Foundation member Chris Zarski, Foundation co-chair Scott Garnett, and Foundation members Gail Cunningham and Kirstyn Rau. From left, front row, Foundation members Doug MacKay and Trina McCaroll. Missing from the photo are Foundation members Tyler Weber and Lesley Barrot.

Healthy at our core

My youngest child recently graduated – from the Grade 6 C.O.R.E. program, that is. I sat down and took a look through the booklet he received. I have to confess that I got a little teary eyed as I read through the seven lessons they had gone through, covering everything from online safety to how to be a good friend. The thought that there are other adults in the community helping my kids to be better people made me a touch emotional – talk about it taking a village to raise a child. The main message though, is one that anyone can take to heart. Constable John Fernhout, School Resource Officer for Camrose Police Service, explains it to students like this: “When we’re in a good place in our body, mind and spirit, we’re more likely to be able to go out and help others.”

Cst. Fernhout is a bit of a local celebrity among Grade 3 and 6 students across five elementary and two junior high schools in Camrose. That’s about 600 to 650 students a year who benefit from this program. Students in their first lesson often view police as scary or as the enemy; partway through, they are greeting Cst. Fernhout with a high five or hug, which is how he knows the program is working.

Many community members are probably more familiar with D.A.R.E., an American program developed to combat youth drug use that was taught in Camrose by Cst. Fernhout from 2008 to 2019. Youth today have so much to navigate – online safety, mental health, cell phone use, peer pressure and feeling isolated in a digital world.

While resource officers in larger communities decided to instead give one-time PowerPoint presentations, Cst. Fernhout, who also has a teaching degree, developed C.O.R.E. (Caring for myself; Online responsibility, Relationships, and Establishing my boundaries). A poll as D.A.R.E. was ending indicated the students’ two favourite parts were the cheer and a stuffed animal, both of which were moved forward into the new program. Students go through seven steps in each of the seven lessons. A few of the steps are starting and ending with a cheer, having a check-in time, and talking about ways to care for the community like holding doors open, smiling, telling someone they’re important to you, and showing gratitude. Instead of focusing only on what is healthy for yourself, C.O.R.E. concentrates on teaching what we can do for people around us.

“We’re trying to get them hooked on serving others,” Cst. Fernhout said.

As I read through the booklet, I was impressed to see the heavy dose of humour it contained – each session includes dad jokes and a Canada Goose fact. I had no idea that we have so much to learn from these birds – not only do they use teamwork by flying in a “V” and mate for life, but they also honk to encourage each other and two geese will stay with one who is injured. Cst. Fernhout took on these iconic birds as the program’s mascot after hearing about a new immigrant on his way to work when he was attacked by a Canada Goose protecting its goslings. Not knowing what kind of an animal it was, he came in to work and said, “I don’t like Cobra Chicken.” Anyone who has ever been charged by a Canada Goose can attest that this is a perfect description of the bird. At C.O.R.E. lessons, the students get to pass around Cornelius the Cobra Chicken, a goose stuffy with a cape. Kids might not think they can learn anything from a goose, but a cobra chicken? Now that’s interesting. At the end of the program, the students are challenged to do a community project – anything from collecting garbage to raising funds for the Stollery Children’s Hospital or Camrose Food Bank. This year, program graduates were asked to work together to create a letter or poster to thank the eight sponsors. Classes which complete the project by the end of the school year will receive a pizza party.

The program has even expanded to include four other C.O.R.E. officers who teach the program to Grade 3 students. While the program is available for other communities to use, so far it is only being taught in Camrose, which means this incredible community-building program is uniquely ours. It also means that about 600 youth were encouraged and motivated this year to be as healthy as possible in order to care for others – a powerful message for young and old alike.

Benefits of movement after 50

By Adan Shaikh

One of the most important things anyone can do for their health is add movement to their daily routine. According to Alberta Health Services, adults should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day to maintain good health. However, Statistics Canada reports that fewer than one in five Canadian adults meet this guideline.

Good health does not just mean maintaining a healthy weight, but also means keeping muscles and joints strong, supporting heart health, and managing stress. As many reach the 50-year mark in their lives, health becomes a growing priority. Bodies go through natural changes with age, and mobility limitations can arise. Regular exercise can play an important role in preserving independence and quality of life. But what really are the benefits of exercising?

Muscle growth

According to Elnara Toovey and Julieta Garcia, accredited Zumba instructors who lead the Zumba Gold classes at the Chuck MacLean Arts Centre, exercising offers a wide range of social, emotional, and physical benefits.

“We lose muscle with age and when you workout and use your muscles your body gets the signal that it needs to keep recovering and regenerating muscle,” shared Elnara.

This is supported by Canadian research showing that adults lose approximately three to eight per cent of muscle mass per decade after the age of 30, with the rate increasing after 60. However, studies published by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research indicate that regular strength training can significantly slow this decline, improve balance, and reduce the risk of falls and injury. According to research, strength training can also help prevent injury and promote longevity.

Mental health

Exercise is known to release endorphins, often referred to as happy hormones, which promote better emotional health. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression, improved mood, and better sleep quality.

“The movement when you dance brings different kinds of rhythms and you have to listen to your body. It is a great way to connect with yourself,” shared Julieta, emphasizing how grounding exercise can be.

Social impact

Joining an exercise class can also have a positive impact on social wellbeing. Statistics Canada reports that social isolation increases with age, particularly after retirement. Group fitness classes provide opportunities for connection, routine, and community.

“When you exercise you feel confident,” shared Julieta. She highlighted the impact exercise can have

on self-image and body awareness. Another benefit of joining classes is the chance to meet new people and form friendships, something that can become more difficult as people age.

Circulation

In addition to benefits for muscles and joints, regular exercise improves blood circulation and supports heart health. Heart and Stroke Canada notes that consistent physical activity can lower blood pressure,

WORKSHOP

reduce cholesterol levels, and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, which remains one of the leading causes of death in Canada.

Exercising can be a powerful way to improve mobility and overall wellbeing in the long run, but Elnara and Julieta recommend that those just starting out should listen to their bodies and begin with low-impact options.

“You don’t have to stick

to one class, yoga, pilates, Zumba, lifting and cardio, there are so many options. I think people should try everything and find a balance that works for them,” advised Julieta. The City of Camrose offers many fitness classes and programs for the community, to explore the options visit www.camrose.ca

A BIG FUTURE

campus.

Geraint

Osborne, Law, Crime, and Justice, University of Alberta Augustana Campus

A tale of two halftimes

Since the early 1990s, the Super Bowl halftime show has become a ritual of national selfpresentation, carefully designed to reflect the American national identity. This year, the cultural symbolism surrounding Bad Bunny and Kid Rock illustrates a cultural realignment within the United States that MAGA Republicans are struggling to keep pace with politically and socially.

Sociologists have long observed that culture and political institutions move at a different pace. Laws can attempt to preserve boundaries, and campaigns may mobilize voters around visions of the past, but consumer taste, artistic expression, and generational identity tend to reveal where a society is headed. What appears on major national stages reflects market calculations about audience composition, purchasing power, and performances capable of connecting a country that is increasingly more diverse than ever before.

Consider what Bad Bunny symbolizes. His global appeal and blending of trap and reggaeton musical genres speak to a U.S. that is far less culturally monolithic than MAGA supporters would like to imagine. No wonder it was the fourth-most watched half-time show of all-time with an estimated 128 million viewers. Younger, ethnically diverse Americans move comfortably between languages, identities, and traditions. Their playlists are borderless and their cultural references are transnational. For them, cultural hybridity has little to do with politics. Instead, it’s about the actual texture and rhythms of everyday life.

But if Bad Bunny represents the sound of an emerging America, the alternative Turning Point “All-American” halftime show, featuring a lip-syncing Kid Rock and a few B-list country performers, represents a populist conservative vision of America that is culturally conventional, devoutly Christian, unapologetically nationalistic, and resistant to demographic change. The aesthetic was deliberate: country rock over global fusion, flag imagery over cosmopolitan symbolism, and tradition over experimentation. For MAGA supporters, this was a cultural defence and assertion that the national identity of the U.S. should remain anchored to familiar historical norms rather than be reshaped by globalization and migration.

However, mass entertainment markets invest billions to capture the future, not the past. Very few corporations wanted to spend advertising dollars on a show that most predicted would have little national appeal (the Turning Point show attracted a paltry YouTube audience of 6.4 million). Showcasing artists who embody multicultural fluency during the country’s most watched sporting event is not necessarily a political gesture; it’s about money and a recognition of changing demographics.

This tension points to a deeper challenge within American nationalism itself. One perspective, often described as ethnic nationalism, imagines the nation as united by a common heritage and shared cultural continuity. Another, civic or liberal nationalism, defines belonging more inclusively through participation, adaptation, and shared public life rather than ancestry. The struggle between these visions is not new, but demographic change is steadily altering the landscape on which it unfolds.

Cultural transformation rarely proceeds quietly. Rapid social change can produce backlash demanding stronger borders and slower change, sometimes expressed through the expanded use of state violence. Yet movements convinced that history is bending in their favour can sometimes adopt confrontational and antiinstitutional tactics. Polarization deepens when adversaries begin to act as if the future of the nation is on the line.

The risk for political actors lies in misreading the nation they hope to govern. Politicians and movements that treat demographic change as temporary or reversible may find themselves appealing to a shrinking cultural centre of gravity. Elections can hinge on economic fluctuations and voter turnout cycles, but culture quietly restructures the contours of national identities that can’t be ignored.

Cultural restructuring isn’t easy. Cultural pluralism brings its own challenges, requiring institutions adept at managing difference while maintaining cohesion. But this Super Bowl offers the U.S. a useful clue. Markets, which are – for better or for worse – considered amoral, are backing a version of the nation that is multilingual, culturally diverse, and forward-looking.

Politics signals short-term transitions, culture signals long term trajectories. If the cultural spotlight provided by the Super Bowl halftime show is any indication, the trajectory of the U.S. will continue to be shaped by the normalization of cultural pluralism.

Next at Lougheed Centre

By Nadine Leming

The Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre has a great lineup planned.

SHAD is Canada’s most acclaimed voice in hip-hop, he masterfully blends humour and memorable sound with significant themes and will be visiting the Mayer Family Community Hall on February 25 at 7 p.m.

This is your rare opportunity for an intimate conversation with the performer in

this pay what you will show. Shakespeare’s “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream” is one of his most beloved comedies. Jörgen’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will bring out the magic of Northern Canada’s woodland and tundra landscapes and creatures.

In addition to their professional dancers, each performance will include up to 10 age-appropriate roles for local young aspiring dancers. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on February 28. Tickets for all events are available at www.camroselive.com

CAMROSE BRUINS

Nadine Leming, Camrose Booster

The Camrose Bruins received the President’s Trophy on February 6, finishing the regular season in first place of the North Central Hockey League (NCHL). Pictured from left are assistant captains Mitch McMullin, Jarod Hovde, Carson Welke and Lane Lightning, captain Brett Njaa, NCHL president Trish Rizko and NCHL vice-president Darcie Brady.

Engaged?

Have you thought ab out getting married in the historic Bailey Theatre ?

There’s no other venue like it.

Our event co ordinator can lo ok a er all of the details to make your sp ecial day memorable. Call 780 - 672-5510 and ask for R ose, or emai l rosev@baileytheatre.com

CATCH A SHOW:

• Free Family Movie: Groundhog Day, Wed ., Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m

• The Baile y Buckaro os Sun., Februar y 22, 2 p.m. $25

• Snowed In Comedy Tour Fri ., Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. $60.64

• Hone yb ear featuring Kyle Mosiuk Sat., March 7, 7 p.m. $42.25

• Kayla Williams, Sat., March 28, 8 p.m. $30 (Students $20)

• The Baile y Buckaro os Sun., March 29, 2 p.m. $25

• Re veen, Sun., April 5, 7 p.m $57.75

• Godfre y Blaque, Sat., April 18

8 p.m. $42

• The Day the Music Died Fri ., April 24, 7 p.m. $57.75

• The Baile y Buckaro os Sun., April 26, 2 p.m. $25

• Rememb er the L egends Thurs., April 30, 7 p.m $45 (Seniors $35)

For more details about upcoming Bailey Theatre events or to purchase tickets, visit BAILEY THE ATRE.COM 780-672-5510

DOWNTOWN CAMROS

ROSALIND AG DAY

8:30 a.m. Co ee Sponsored by UFA Bawlf

9:00 a.m. Camrose County Update

10:00 a.m. Bernie Quade –Australian Agriculture Challenges and Relevance to Alberta

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Rosalind Hall Plus information tables from the Agricultural Industry

Bruins championship calibre season on playoff run

11:00 a.m. Sharene Cunningham – AGI3 Farm Insurance

12:00 noon LUNCH sponsored by Nutrien Refreshment from Detention Brewing Co. Sponsored by BASF

1:00 p.m. Dr. Gail Flemming Mental Health in Agriculture

2:00 p.m. Matt Enright BRR Update & Crop Marketing Outlook

3:00 p.m. Cst. Nathaniel Sande RCMP Rural Crime Prevention

By Nadine Leming

The Camrose Bruins had a very successful season with a 12-2-2 record in the regular season finishing first overall in the North Central Senior Hockey League (NCHL) winning the President’s Trophy. With the playoffs well underway, there’s nothing quite like playoff hockey. Every aspect of the game is intensified and the energy in the arena is at an alltime high.

With an outstanding record, the team’s key to success this season has been depth up and down the lineup.

Greg Sharp, Bruins treasurer said, “We aren’t a ‘one-line’ team. We have the guys who can score on the top units as well as having a bottom six who can shut down the opposition. We just outwork other teams.”

Over the course of the season, the team has averaged over six goals per game. The Bruins have the firepower to unleash the hounds and almost score at will. Making things even more difficult for the opposition, the Bruins have one of the best tandem goaltenders in the league.

The team was privileged to have the best in net with Curtis Skip’s (#31) save percentage being .911 and Spencer Welke (#34) at .910. This gave the team the ability to play aggressively, confident that their last line of defence had their backs.

For as good as the team’s record was this year, the team still occasionally faced adversity. Discipline was an issue from time to time throughout the season. In a 17-3 blowout game against Morinville, the team racked up over 60 penalty minutes in just that one game.

Playing Bruins hockey means playing with an edge. There were times mid-season when that philosophy came back to bite them. They would let the physical side of the game distract them from playing a calculated and structured game. Throughout the playoffs, the team will focus on maintaining that structure and not letting emotions get the better of them.

Blazing the trail for the team up front are guys like Tylor Keller (#12), referred to as a “clutch” player. He has a nose for the net with more than one way to score.

It could be with a natural hat trick or a game-winning goal on the power play, he can be counted on in a high pressure situation.

Erik Miller (#19) is another example. He finished the regular season near the top of the scoring leaders in the league with 33 points. The team knows he is the go-to playmaker on the roster.

Lane Lightning (#61) is the esteemed emotional leader on the bench. He plays each game with gumption, often being the guy to spark the bench with a big hit or timely goal. And of course, don’t forget the “Twin Towers” in net. Welke and Skip give the team a solid chance every night, giving the team the confidence to hit the ice and play their game.

The season definitely had some amazing highlights, like the blowout against Morinville. The players also showed resilience over the season securing points in games in overtime and that has helped them prepare the mental strength required in the playoffs.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Bruins squared off against the Westlock Warriors. In the first game of the series, the Bruins used their speed to counterbalance the Warriors physical play with a decisive 5-2 victory where the home team’s power play made an impact.

The reality check came in game two when Westlock fought back with a well-earned 7-4 win. They managed to engage the Bruins in end-to-end action, reminding the players that the playoffs are at a different level and you can’t take a shift off.

As of The Booster’s printing deadline, the team was heading into the weekend looking to close out the series with calculated execution allowing the players to get some well deserved rest before the next series starts. They are looking to provide fans with a decisive and disciplined win while special teams continue on a positive role to carry that momentum forward into the next series.

Isberg plays at Bailey

By Nadine Leming

Tim Isberg is a “good ole’ Alberta boy” and is a singer-songwriter and a veteran soldier of the Canadian military. As a performer, one can hear the storyteller in him come to life, with many of the stories he sings about stemming from his life and adventures.

His sound blends country, roots and contemporary folk while his stage presence draws the crowd in, allowing each audience member to relax and feel comfortable. Tim brought all of that to Camrose on February 7 to the Bailey.

He presented his Prairie Fire album which features 12 original songs based on historical events from Western Canada in the late 19th century. The events he sings about can be described as the good and the bad of an era that spanned about 30 years and includes song titles like “Fire Canoe,” which tells the tale of the early steamboats of the era along the Saskatchewan River to “Steel Wheels” talking about CPR’s transcontinental railway across Western Canada.

Tim’s voice was pleasant to the ear, backed up by the beautiful harmonies of his band. The audience enjoyed the melodies of the mandolin alongside the cry of the pedal steel guitar.

He is a consummate storyteller, engaging listeners with ease, occasionally infusing humour.

This show that featured the songs from his album shared stories of the wealth of history in Western Canada. He encouraged the audience to share their stories with him during the intermission and after the show.

Continued on page 21

Employ ment Opportunities

LABOURER

1 – UTILITIES

Are yo u look in g for a challengin g summer jo b where yo u will work with a grea t te am an d lear n some valuable skills? Join ou r te am at th e Ci ty of Camros e where yo u ca n contribute to helpin g Camros e grow as a dynami c communit y.

FU NCTIONS/DUTI ES (but no t limite d to):

• Assist in th e followin g duties an d ta sks: sanitary sewe r cleaning , sewe r manhole i nspections, sanitary sewe r root contro l program, excava tion an d re pair of broken sanitary sewe r main s an d wate r main s an d se rv ices labourer for va c truc k an d wate r truck, va lve operations hydrant fl ushing /u nidi re ctiona l fl ushing (UDF ) program, hydran t re pairs, chemical handling , mete r re ading an d mete r se rv ic e work

• Assist in main te nanc e of hydrants , va lves , utilitie s an d infrastructu re building s an d assets

• Pe rfor m yard main te nanc e (grass an d weed cont ro l, snow removal)

• Pe rfor m basic manual labour using hand s or common labour tools, complex handheld an d af fi xe d powe r tool s an d machines , light main te nanc e to equipmen t an d ve hicles

• Assist in wate r treatment an d wastewater treatment duties as di re cted an d supe rv ised

• Communicat e ef fe ctivel y with member s of th e public , user s an d ot he r empl oyee s.

• Assistance with ot he r Ci ty operatio n functions as necessar y an d assigned

QUALIFICAT IONS :

• Must be en ro lled in secondar y or pos t- secondar y institutio n with a g ood at tend ance record

• Must be able to work in inclemen t weathe r conditions

• Ba si c computer literacy to pe rfor m assigned duties

• St ro ng writ ten an d ve rbal communicatio n skills with th e abilit y to communicat e with internal an d ex te rnal stakeholders in a profes sional manner

• Punctual with a reliable an d st ro ng work ethic.

• Ab ilit y to work independentl y or in a team se tt ing.

• Maintain a posit ive workin g re lationship with th e genera l public an d re presen t th e Ci ty in a profes sional manner

• Ab ilit y to exer t moderate physical activi ty

• Va li d Clas s 5 Al be rt a Motor Ve hicle Operator ’s Licence.

HOUR S OF WO RK : Hour s of work are generall y 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday th ro ug h Fr iday Shif t work an d over time may also be necessar y to addres s operationa l requirements

HOUR LY WAGE : $19. 09 pe r hour in accordance with th e CUPE 1425 Collecti ve Agre emen t.

A PPLICAT IONS : Individual s inte re sted in this positio n are invite d to submit a cove r le tter an d resumé to th e emai l addres s below. In te rv iews will be conducte d on a fi rs t come basi s an d positions will be fi lled in th e same manner. Position s will remain open unti l al l suit able candidates are fo und. If applying by email, please ensu re th e jo b positio n is included in th e subjec t line We appreciate and consider all applications ; however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacte d.

CONTAC T:

Ci ty of Camros e – At tent ion: Utilit y Supe rv isor

Mailing Ad dress: 52 04 -50 Avenue , Camrose, AB T4V 0S 8

P: 78 0.672.5513

E: hr@cam ro se.c a W: www.c am ro se.c a

golf ca rt s, genera l housekeeping , answering phones an d prov idin g excellen t customer se rv ic e in th e Pro Shop

QUALIFICAT IONS :

• Re liable with st ro ng work ethic.

• Ab ilit y to follow instructions an d work both independentl y an d in a te am enviro nment.

• St ro ng writ ten an d ve rbal communicatio n skills

• Ba si c computer skills

Su cce ssfu l candidates will be req uired to produc e a va li d Clas s

5 driver ’s licenc e an d a satisfacto ry Driver ’s Abstra ct an d Police

Informatio n Check.

HOUR S OF WO RK : Hour s of work will va ry dependin g on applicable positio n. Some shif t work will be necessar y to addres s operationa l re quirements

HOUR LY WAGE :

• La bourers – Th e wage for these te mporar y positions is $19. 09 or $23. 31 pe r hour base d on ex perience, an d in accordance with th e CUPE Lo ca l1425 Collecti ve Agre emen t.

• Wildlife Coordinato r – Th e hourly wage for this temporar y positio n will be base d on $18. 96 pe r hour

• Pro Sh op At tendan ts – Th e hourly wage for these te mporar y positions will be base d on $16. 27 pe r hour

A PPLICAT IONS : If on e of these seasonal jobs sounds li ke a fi t for yo u, please submit a separate cove r le tter an d re sumé fo r each position yo u are inte re sted in to th e at tent io n of th e a ppropriate emai l listed We appreciate and consider all applications ; however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacte d.

Ba se d on th e vo lume of inte re st an d quanti ty of availabl e positions , inte rv iews will be conducte d on a fi rs t come basi s an d positions will be fi lled in same manner. Position s will remain open until al l suit able candidates are found.

Parks Season al Positions At te ntion: Manager of Parks parks@camros e.ca

Golf Cour se Ground s Season al Positions At te ntion: Golf Grounds Manager jc oles@c amrose .c a

Public Work s Season al Positions At te ntion: Manager of Road s pw@c amrose .c a

Golf Cour se Pro Shop Season al Positions At te ntion: Golf Clubhouse Manager gchris tens on@c amrose .c a

Submitted

The Camrose Ski Club held its annual Ole Uffda Loppet race on February 1. The club sends out a huge thank you to volunteers and participants for a great event. The groomers did an amazing job on the trails that held up very well despite the warm temperatures. Participants came from Vermilion, Drayton Valley, Red Deer, Edmonton and Canmore. The winners were as follows in both female and male categories: 1.5 km – Sierra Burgess (F) and Tanner Broadbent (M); 5 km – Celine Cinq-Mars (F) and Robin Cinq-Mars (M); 10 km – Margaret Vyhlidal (F) and Will Brager (M); 15 km – Chloe Funnell (F) and Tomas Mark (M); 30 km – Morgan Elaschuk (F) and Dawson Ferguson (M).

Classrooms

By Jackie Lovely, MLA Camrose Constituency

Alberta is moving forward because United Conservatives are focused on supporting families, students, and communities – from classrooms to energy innovation. That means giving teachers the tools to meet today’s classroom challenges and backing technologies that keep Alberta’s energy sector competitive while reducing environmental impacts.

Classrooms in Alberta are more complex than ever. Recent data from 89,000 classrooms across 1,549 schools shows that while average class sizes remain manageable, student needs are growing. Some students require extra academic support, some are learning English, and others need behavioural or emotional guidance. Teachers face increasing demands, and United Conservatives are making sure they have the help they need.

That’s why our government is investing $143 million to create 476 K-6 complexity teams, each made up of one teacher and two educational assistants. These teams will work directly in classrooms across Alberta to provide extra support to students with diverse needs. By focusing on early intervention, these teams will help students succeed before challenges grow and give teachers more capacity to do their work effectively. Schools with the highest complexity factors are being prioritized, ensuring resources reach the students who need them most. This targeted, evidencebased approach reflects our commitment to practical solutions grounded in data.

Strong classrooms are the foundation for strong communities, but Alberta is also leading in responsible energy development. Through the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program, our United Conservative government is investing $28 million in six projects using innovative technologies to help energy companies reduce costs, lower emissions, and remain globally competitive. These projects include safer carbon capture pipelines in Suffield, converting cattle farm waste into natural gas in Coaldale, and reducing methane emissions from cattle in Edmonton. Other projects restore old oil and gas sites, improve well efficiency in Calgary, and reduce emissions in Yellowhead County.

These energy projects are expected to create roughly 1,000 jobs, contribute nearly $167 million to Alberta’s economy by 2027, and reduce about 260,000 tonnes of emissions by 2030. By supporting innovation and sustainability in the energy sector, Alberta is demonstrating that it is possible to grow the economy while reducing environmental impact.

Strong leadership means making choices that deliver real results for Albertans. United Conservatives are ensuring classrooms have the support teachers and students need, while energy projects keep our industries competitive and sustainable for decades to come. By focusing on practical solutions and long-term planning, we’re building a stronger, smarter, and more resilient province for everyone.

Contact my office if you require my assistance. A reminder that I am a commissioner of oaths and a notary public and provide the service free for constituents.

You can contact Jackie Lovely, Camrose MLA, at Constituency Office, 104, 4870-51 Street, Camrose, AB T4V 1S1. Tel: 780-672-0000, camrose@assembly.ab.ca or at Legislature Office, 6th Floor, 9820-107 Street, Edmonton, AB T5K 1E7.

Submitted

Camrose Police Service received several calls between January 23 to 31.

Here are some important highlights:

Non-responsive male

Police requested EMS assistance with a male found in a vehicle, unconscious and not breathing. Prior to EMS arrival police administered CPR. Male was left in the care of EMS.

Stolen trailer

A representative of a local business reported the gate of the business was smashed and an enclosed trailer stolen. A later report by the business indicated the trailer contained two snowmobiles. Trailer was locked with a hitch lock.

Three days later, Edmonton Police Service recovered the two stolen snowmobiles and enclosed trailer.

Dog in distress

Police received a report of a dog in distress. Police attended the area and found the dog in need of intervention, with no water, no food, on a short leash and shivering. Police were unable to contact a person at the residence. The dog was taken to the shelter.

Theft and tampering with motor vehicles

On January 25, Camrose Police received a report from a female indicating that a known male suspect had assaulted her daughter. Police attended the residence of the complainant, who provided police with a preliminary statement with regards to the assault.

Police circulated the area, located and arrested the male suspect. Incident to arrest, the search of the suspect resulted in locating vehicle documents and items belonging to five different people.

Officers backtracked the suspect’s shoeprints in the area (48 Street and 47 Street and 5200 Block) and discovered 10 separate vehicles (many that were unlocked) that the suspect had broken into or entered unlawfully. The suspect was charged with several criminal offences including Theft and Tampering with Motor Vehicles. The name of the suspect will be released once charges have been sworn to.

Police remind all citizens to secure their vehicles, don’t leave property visible and report all suspicious activity.

Break and Enter

A representative of a local business reported that someone had broken into a construction site and cut out all the wire. Police attended and determined six suites were damaged and approximately $900 worth of wire was cut.

Impaired driver Staff of a local business reported a possible impaired driver. Police located the subject vehicle. The operator of the vehicle was issued a 24-hour suspension and four violation tickets.

Possession of illegal drugs

Police observed an SUV in a ditch located at TWP 464 and Highway 21 with two people in the back seat. Police noted drug paraphernalia and illegal cigarettes in the vehicle. A search resulted in locating 50 ml of GHB (illegal drug). Both occupants were charged.

Theft

A loss prevention officer of a local retail business reported theft by a female suspect of approximately $175 in merchandise. The suspect was issued a oneyear trespass notice.

Illegal cigarettes and drugs

Police conducted a stop on a vehicle for equipment violations. Police noted illegal cigarettes in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle located 25.2 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The operator of the vehicle was charged and arrested.

Erratic operation of motor vehicle

A person reported a vehicle being operated erratically. Police located the subject vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The operator of the vehicle was charged with not having proper supervision for a Class 7 driver’s licence. The passenger was charged with not possessing the proper driver’s licence class to supervise the operator. A properly licensed driver came to drive the vehicle home.

Collision

A collision was reported at 44 Avenue and 53 Street involving the operator of one vehicle proceeding unsafely into the intersection colliding with another vehicle. The operator of the subject vehicle and their young son were transported to St. Mary’s Hospital for minor injuries.

Indecent exposure

A person reported a male walking in public, possibly intoxicated, with his genitals exposed. Police located the male who was walking with his pants down. Police arrested the male and placed him in police cells until he was sober.

Stunting

A person reported two trucks in the Duggan Mall parking lot driving erratically. Police located the subject vehicles and after viewing CCTVideo from the mall charged the operator of the vehicle with stunting and issued a sixmonth trespass notice for the Mall parking lots.

SPONSORS URGENTLY NEEDED FOR THE LEGENDARY

CAMROSE & DISTRICT SOCCER ASSOCIATION’S

The “Under The Lights” Tournament has been a mainstay in Camrose for over 25 years. This unique tournament features teams starting games as late as 1 am! Kids love it.

Teams come to Camrose from every corner of Alberta.

Last year’s tournament featured over 130 teams. It’s a massive economic boost for Camrose businesses. 130 teams x 20 players/team + families, grandparents and friends.

To keep this tournament alive, WE NEED SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT.

We offer sponsorships for the Night Classic Tournament for as low as $500, or we can give you all the bells and whistles level of exposure for an investment of $5000 MANY OTHER SUPPORTIVE LEVEL OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE

THANKS FOR HELPING US!

If you’re open to our pitch, which will keep youth on the pitch, please email president@camrosesoccer.com.

www.camrosesoccer.com

An evening with the Camrose Public Library

By Nadine Leming

The Fellowship of the Camrose Public Library (Fellowship) hosted a Meet and Eat fundraiser in support of the library (CPL) on February 5. It was an interesting evening with award-winning author, Carissa Halton, who introduced her fictional novel, Revolution Songs.

The evening began with a photobooth and a display from the Camrose and District Centennial Museum for participants to peruse while supporters mixed and mingled.

There was a short program that included comments from Mary MacArthur, who thanked the CPL board members including Marty Maxwell, Camrose County Councillor, and Joy-Anne Murphy, City of Camrose Councillor. Lisa Trach, Fellowship vice-chair, brought greetings on behalf of the Fellowship.

Alyssa Martin, CPL director, talked about the programming of the Library that people are often surprised to learn they provide. She talked about the makerspace where people have access to things like a Cricut machine, VHS digitization station, photo scanner, 3D printer and more.

She also touched on the access to technology that can help people compose music or record a podcast. There is so much that CPL offers from classes to equipment rental like snowshoes, after-school programs like Snacks and Stacks, and much more. Take some time to visit the Library to find out all the things they offer.

Alyssa also touched on how the Library has outgrown the building, stating that the collection of our Library is only 66% of the minimum of what it should be for a community the size of Camrose.

She talked about how to help the Library by encouraging people who are capable of making a donation to either the CPL or to the Fellowship. Speak to representatives and let them know that you value the Library and that things like the building need help and it is important.

CPL supporters dined on 1930s-themed food, which is the era in which the author’s book is set, carefully prepared by Chef Ryan Passek. He dug deep and came up with a modern flair on staples of the 1930s. He did an absolutely amazing job and the food was fantastic.

Supporters were treated with live music from Jim and Penny Malmberg. Dressed appropriately for the 1930s era, they played a few songs and encouraged the crowd to sing along with the song sheets provided. They truly are a delightful couple.

The evening concluded with a question and answer session with author Carissa Halton, who talked about her historical novel Revolution Songs.

Carissa said, “The fundraiser was a beautiful event, they thought of every detail. It was an honour to be a part of raising money for the Library while sharing more about my book.”

The novel is a work of fiction, but brings to life the tension and resolve in an exploited mining town struggling during the depression, shedding light on a true and challenging time in Alberta’s history. Blairmore, AB, located in the Crowsnest Pass, was known for electing Canada’s first communist town council and school board in 1933, the rise of the Canadian Ku Klux Klan and the women who fought on both sides.

The community was referred to as “Little Moscow,” renamed streets after communist leaders holding power until 1936. Blairmore’s sympathies with communism partially stemmed from low wages and poor working conditions of the day. The Fellowship of the Camrose Public Library is an independent society whose mission is to fundraise for the Library in order for the continuation of programing while raising awareness of why public libraries are important. They put the “fun” back in fundraising by hosting exciting events like this Meet and Eat fundraiser. Supporting the Fellowship of the Camrose Public Library means our Library can keep offering the resources and services that our community needs in a way that leaves you feeling welcome and inspired.

Lisa Trach, Fellowship vice-chair, said, “The fundraiser was a huge success. Marrow restaurant did a wonderful job at creating a menu that echoed the times portrayed in the book. The Fellowship was honoured to showcase an Alberta local artist and we hope to do it again.”

For more information on how to support or get involved with the Fellowship of the Camrose Public Library, email fellowshipcpl@gmail.com or go to www.prl.ab.ca/Camrose/ About-Us/Friends-of-the-Library

Nadine Leming, Camrose Booster

The Fellowship of the Camrose Public Library held a fundraiser in support of our local library. Alyssa Martin is the director of the Library and talked about some of the amazing things that happen there.

If you haven’t been to the Library in a while, it’s time to check things out.

Nadine Leming, Camrose Booster

Jim and Penny Malmberg were on hand to support the fundraiser with some entertainment leading the crowd in a sing-a-long including numbers popular back in the 1930s.

Nadine Leming, Camrose Booster

Author of Revolution Songs , Carissa Halton enjoyed mixing and mingling with supporters of the Camrose Public Library.

She commented, “What a great venue Camrose has in the Marrow! Not only were they so accommodating, the brick and décor set the tone for a beautiful night. It’s nights like this that will be the bridge in our polarizing world.”

Investing in segregated funds

By Adan Shaikh

Life can be unpredictable, much like the stock market. One financial product that offers a great way to invest while also providing protection against market crashes and an option to put money aside for beneficiaries when estate-planning is segregated funds, often called “seg funds.” These are managed investment funds that are offered through insurance companies instead of banks.

They are similar to mutual funds but have the added protection of insurance features. The financial advisor or manager of the fund, invests the client’s money in a variety of bonds and stocks to build a diversified portfolio. Diversification reduces risk and in the event that the market declines, the investor or their beneficiaries are guaranteed to receive a set amount. Most segregated funds offer a 75 or 100 per cent maturity and death benefit guarantees, depending on the contract.

“A segregated fund has to have a maturity guarantee because insurance companies sell it. If you go with 100 per cent maturity you can get a 15 year maturity guarantee. You can also capture resets of your growth but in most cases, this resets your 15 year maturity. The death benefit is 100 per cent of your deposit and resets to capture growth,” explained Dick Reaney, chartered life underwrit -

er and chartered financial consultant.

The protection on the invested funds is the key reason segregated funds are a strong choice for many individuals, especially those nearing retirement. In Alberta and most other Canadian provinces, segregated funds can result in faster distribution of funds to beneficiaries and lower legal costs. Additionally, these funds also often provide protection from creditors, since they are insurance contracts, funds can be shielded from creditors if specific terms and conditions are in place.

For taxes, segregated funds are similar to mutual funds, they have taxable distribution and capital gains. Although segregated funds typically carry higher management fees than mutual funds due to the embedded insurance guarantees. The funds remain an appealing choice for investors, farmers, seniors and multi-generational family businesses looking to ensure the risk is managed and their wealth continues to grow.

As with any investment, Reaney recommends evaluating personal goals, timelines, and risk tolerance with a financial advisor before making any decisions. Overall segregated funds offer a balanced way to explore market opportunities with safeguards in place to keep financial futures secure.

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Low-risk financial strategies to make your money grow

By Adan Shaikh

The days when simply having a savings account could provide financial security are long gone. In today’s unpredictable and rapidly evolving global markets, effective saving involves strategies that allow your funds to grow and generate income. Here are some low-risk options to start growing finances: High-Interest Savings Accounts

A High-Interest Savings Accounts (HISA) is an easy and low-risk method to earn money on your saved funds. These accounts can be opened with your personal banking provider in minutes and offer special interest rates, often above four per cent. These accounts are

great for short-term saving goals or emergency funds and offer liquidity and security.

Tax-Free Savings Accounts

A Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) allows you to save money without having to pay any taxes on the earned interest, dividends or capital gains. This account offers flexibility and the money can be invested in a variety of products such as Guaranteed Investment Certificates or HISAs, allowing your savings to grow overtime.

Guaranteed Investment Certificates

Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) lock in your money for a specified period of time,

I OFFER Inve stment Planning and Insurance SOLU TION S

which can range from months to years. The money earns a guaranteed interest rate. However, this type of account is not accessible like HISAs or TFSAs but GICs provide protection against market fluctuation, making them perfect for low-risk investment.

Bonds

Government or corporate bonds are loans that pay regular interest over a fixed period. Much like GICs, bonds are considered a low-risk option because they are backed by federal or provincial governments, they provide added security on return of investment. Bonds provide steady income and are a great way to diversify an investment portfolio, especially for seniors.

Dividend-Paying Stock

For those willing to take a slightly higher risk, dividend-earning stocks in stable companies and sectors such as utilities can offer regular income. This can be done by speaking to a financial advisor at your financial institution.

Exchange-traded funds

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a mix of bonds and stocks that offer potential for growth and reduce market volatility. Managed by professionals who adjust

allocations based on market conditions, these funds are a great option for those wanting exposure in the stock market without higher risk.

The most important step to take before investing your money is to discuss your personal financial goals with a financial advisor, they can offer expert advice, take a look at your finances and offer direction that best suits your goals and needs.

Build our future…

Births

Ayla Huculak and Zachary Selin of Camrose County, celebrate the birth of a daughter on February 6.

Deaths

Harold Warkentin of Tofield, passed away February 6, at 72 years of age.

Jeffrey Argue of Camrose, passed away February 6, at 37 years of age.

Dr. James Schimpf of Parkland County, passed away February 8, at 65 years of age.

Brenda Lee Stoklosa of Camrose, passed away on February 9, at 69 years of age.

Elizabeth “Liz” Esther Eliason of Camrose, passed away February 10, at 85 years of age.

The right financial services team for every stage of life and living!

VCU Financial provides start-to-finish financial services delivered with life in rural Alberta in mind. Today, through VCU Financial in partnership with Aviso Wealth, we’re proud to offer financial planning*, mutual funds*, segregated funds, ETFs, stocks and bonds, life insurance and retirement and estate planning

VCU Financial offers office locations in Wetaskiwin, Camrose, Peace River and Wainwright, however, our advisors travel to Vision branches across the province to help clients reach their goals for finances and life.

The VCU Financial team working for you, no matter where you live:

Isberg plays at Bailey Theatre

Continued from page 13

The crowd was very appreciative of the stories and songs Tim shared throughout the show. Many volunteers and theatregoers commented on how they enjoyed Tim’s ability to communicate a story with ease that led into each song.

For fans of great music or those who love to hear a good story, Tim Isberg is sure to delight. He closed the show with “Tears Along the Road.”

The song commemorated his 44 years of service in the military and

was a tribute to his fellow comrades who served. Some of whom lost their lives during combat, others afterward. The audience showed their appreciation with applause, acknowledging his service alongside his comrades.

One day, Tim hopes for the Prairie Fire album to be turned into a play to share the stories he so passionately shared at the Bailey Theatre. For those who were unable to attend the show, you may want to grab your tickets early when he returns to Camrose.

By Adan Shaikh

Ron Stimson’s 1947 Ford convertible wasn’t his first and only project, as an automotive hobbyist Ron has worked on several resto-mods over the years. This specific vehicle was built over decades, shaped with patience and a willingness to start and stop when life demanded it.

Ron bought the car in 2002, fully aware that it was far from roadworthy. In fact, according to him, it was a basket case. “I had to get a frame from a different ’47 for this. I did a tremendous amount of work on it, I worked on it for a about three years until a different project came along that was more interesting to me at the time so this one got pushed into a corner in my shop for seven years.”

After retiring, Stimson and his wife moved to B.C. for four years, hauling the car west in pieces. It was there that the build finally reached completion. After years of hands-on work, problem solving and fabrication, he slowly transformed a rough shell into a custom classic that has been built with close attention to details.

“I finished it in B.C. and then brought it back.”

Nearly every component of the car has been modified or upgraded. Underneath, the frame and chassis were strengthened to handle added horsepower and modern running gear. “The frame and chassis was beefed up to handle additional horsepower and to fit the new type of drive train,” Stimson said.

The car now runs a late model GM engine, four wheel disc brakes, a 383 Chevy stroker paired with a 700R4 overdrive transmission, and a Ford nine-inch rear end, giving it strong performance and reliable cruising ability.

Visually, the changes may be subtle but Stimson estimates there are around 25 body modifications. “The headlights are frenched, the taillights are frenched

FUN FACTS

Ron’s 1947 Ford Convertible’s engine has MSD ignition, Edelbrock intake, Holley classic double pumper carburator and shorty headers.

The original 1947 Ford Convertible was a carryover from 1941-42 but featured updated grilles, larger hubcaps, and more stainless steel trim to signify the new era.

Stimson’s completely modified 1947 Ford Convertible

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

and the front end and rear bumpers are moved into the body closer from what they were stock,” he explained. The door handles have been shaved, replaced with remote entry for both doors and trunk, while the licence plate has also been frenched for a cleaner look.

To maintain proper proportions, the top irons and windshield were each chopped two inches, tightening the profile of the convertible without sacrificing comfort or beauty. The rear fenders were molded into the body, smoothing the lines and giving the car a more cohesive appearance.

Ron also modified the interior of the car himself, the seats came from a BMW 325i, then were upholstered to match the car’s interior theme. He fabricated much of the surrounding structure to ensure the seats fit properly and complemented the rest of the cabin.

Despite the countless hours invested, Stimson

says the strongest memories come not from any single stage of the build, but from the long journey itself.

“The biggest memory is building this car and stopping and restarting the build,” he said. Today, the 1947 Ford stands as a reflection of Ron’s hard work that is evident in every small detail of the vehicle.

I f you have a vintage ride (rebuilt or original), if you’re in the midst of a restoration, or if you’re building a “rat ” or a street rod, we’d like to hear from you. We may want to pro le your project. Likewise, if you own vintage automotive tools, old diagnostic equipment or other tools or techniques of the trade, please contact us We’re eager to write and repor t on these k inds of topics And, our readers want to see what interests you! Contact Adan Shaikh, News Repor ter Phone 780.672.3142 Email adan@camrosebooster.com

Rose City Shuffle

By Nadine Leming

The Camrose Dance Club is a member of the Camrose and District Senior Centre and holds monthly afternoon dances held the first Saturday of each month. The dance club is managed by a dedicated group of volunteers that has been active for 46 years. This event is part of a rural circuit and is attended by people from all over the province.

Dances in Camrose are particularly popular due to the great dance floor and wonderful food. Currently lunch is prepared by Hilda Tomaszewski and her fabulous volunteers.

People travel to Camrose because of the well thought out menus and Hilda is known for her efficiency and the quality of her food. Sherry Tovell, vicepresident of the dance club said in reference to the reasonable price of the event, “You can’t go to many places and receive exercise, friendship, and a great lunch these days.”

Attendance can vary from month to month depending on the weather, but can range anywhere from 120 to 176 people. Music was provided this month by the band, Timeless Music.

These events are a part of the rural history of Alberta with the music usually consisting of old time country, waltzes, two-step, foxtrot and polkas. It’s not unusual to have the occasional Latin or swing dances thrown into the mix as well.

These events are a great opportunity for people to

socialize and gather in a friendly atmosphere. Over the years, friendships have been formed that are celebrated every month.

Members from other Camrose dance clubs such as couples dance classes and the senior centre’s monthly music jam, which happens on the second Sunday of the month. The dances give people an opportunity to dance and socialize, as well as giving musicians and singers an opportunity to perform.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to get out, socialize, enjoy a great meal and maybe dance the afternoon away, this event is worth attending. The next dance will be March 7, featuring the band The Sparkling Tones. For more information email camrosedance@gmail.com

There are also a multitude of other dance opportunities available including line dance classes and partner classes. For more information on classes or to get on the list for classes, email Sherry at sherrdwm@outlook.com

Don’t forget about the Camrose Mirror Lake Centre Music Jam on the second Sunday of each month, hosted by members of the Bailey Buckaroos and Riverjacks. Come play, sing or dance with professional back-up. For more information on activities at the Mirror Lake Senior Centre, email camsrsoc@telus.net or check their website at camroseseniorcentre.com

ST.

Submitted

a grant for 83 bedside chairs, varying in height and width, to

grant was valued at over $66,000.00 and

Neighbor Aid Center, supporting community

By Nadine Leming

Food banks provide a vital service in the communities they serve. They are often the first point of contact for people in need as they are struggling with food insecurity, they are likely to be struggling in other areas of their lives as well.

Not only do they offer essential meals, often with more nutritious food to individuals and families, food banks offer many other additional supports including nutritional education, and addresses to other resources.

Neighbor Aid Center is one of those great community supports that offers more than just food hampers. They provide an emergency financial assistance program supported by member churches that provides a one-time financial intervention for families and people that find themselves in an unexpected hardship.

They also offer referral services and act as a bridge between those in need and the various support services available in Camrose. They work to maintain strong relationships with local agencies, government services and other non-profits to help clients access the resources they need.

Another valuable service the Neighbor Aid Center offers is free transportation to important medical appointments, like to see a specialist in Edmonton, for those who may not have any other means of transportation.

Martha’s Table is a unique service established in 1998. It is more than a soup kitchen, it’s a place where people can find warm hearts alongside a warm meal. This service is provided twice a week offering a welcoming atmosphere where you are treated like family.

Continued on page 29

THE KODIAKS DEN Player Profile: Ethan Short

By Nadine Leming

Ethan Short will be concluding his Junior A career with the team where it all began, with the Kodiaks. His strengths as a hockey player include his ability to forecheck with a knack to win puck battles. Ethan treats every situation on the ice the same, by practicing for how you play and trying to be prepared and ready for what comes during a game.

Off the ice, Ethan enjoys watching movies, playing video games and cards. He also enjoys school visits as it’s fun to see the students smiling and having a great time. One of his proudest accomplishments in hockey was winning an AJHL championship in 2024 as part of the Calgary Canucks team. When asked about his future goal in hockey, he stated, “My goal is to win another AJHL championship.”

Some of the best advice he’s received in hockey from older players was that it’s not about the destination, it’s about enjoying the journey. He passes along the same advice to younger players. Ethan said, “I’m very grateful for how far I’ve been able to play hockey.”

While on the road Ethan looks forward to story times on the bus, adding, “Nothing beats them.” When playing at home, he enjoys the Encana Arena as it’s an amazing rink in which to play. One thing Kodiaks fans might be surprised to learn about Ethan is that he’s a very good ping pong player and you probably shouldn’t try playing Connect Four with him as he’s likely to win at that too.

Ethan is a proud Kodiak player, commenting, “My experience playing hockey in Camrose has been amazing, the community treats you as one of their own and that truly makes a difference moving here for the first time and in my case the second time as well.”

Ethan will be a player to watch as the team moves towards the playoffs beginning March 20. For more information on the Kodiaks or to grab your tickets, check out their website at www.camrosekodiaks.ca

Harold Warkentin of Tofield, AB, passed away unexpectedly of medical complications on February 6, 2026, at the age of 72 years.

He is survived by his wife Natalie; son Errol (Rebecca) and their children Ethan and Allison; daughter Dori (Darell) Koop and their children Oakley and Ryder; and numerous family and friends.

A memorial service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026, at Lendrum Mennonite Church, Edmonton (11210-59 Avenue NW). Cremation has taken place.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee.

Dr. James Schimpf

Dr. James Schimpf of Parkland County, Alberta, passed away on February 8, 2026, at the age of 65 years.

He is survived by his wife Janet; father Harold; brothers David (Karen) and Wes (Marnie); nieces and nephews Erin (Brian), Matthew (Sara), Phoebe and Seth; and numerous family and friends.

Jim was predeceased by his mother Enid.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Weber’s Mount Pleasant Chapel, Camrose. Interment will follow at the Camrose Valleyview Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or the Humane Society.

Alice Louise Chrbet

Alice Louise Chrbet (Dziekonski) passed away peacefully on February 1, 2026, at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton at the age of 87. For the past two years, she made her home at Seasons Retirement Community in Camrose, where she was known for her gentle spirit and quiet resilience.

Alice was born on May 31, 1938, in Daysland Hospital to Walter and Clara Dziekonski. She grew up in the Strome area and graduated from Strome High School in 1956. Her first job was at the Killam Hospital, where she developed a lifelong appreciation of caring for others.

Music was one of Alice’s great joys. In the 1960s, she played accordion in a country music band, performing in local bars and halls and earning a little extra money doing something she loved.

In 1957, Alice met John Chrbet, also of Strome. They married and built a life together filled with hard work, family and devotion. Together they raised two sons, Roger (1960) and Rodney (1961), who remained the centre of her world.

Alice was predeceased by her husband John (September 22, 2014); her parents Walter and Clara Dziekonski; her sister Sophie and husband George Polchowski; and her brother-in-law Joe Komperdo. She is survived by her brother Walter (Ann); her sister Geraldine (Renee) Komperdo (partner Karry); her sons Roger and Rodney (Shelly) and their children Tasha Chrbet (Jag Doulla) and their daughter Priya Doulla; Tyler Chrbet, his daughter Kylee and son Deklin.

Alice is also lovingly remembered by her niece Tracy Komperdo Palmer and Tracy’s children Brooklyn, Cameron and Reese; and her nephew Scott Dziekonski (Tracy) and Sophie’s children Jackie, Barbara and Christine.

A graveside service was held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Valleyview Cemetery in Camrose, Alberta.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Kidney Foundation, causes meaningful to Alice and her family.

Memorial Poems

Available for publication in The Camrose Booster Ask for our 24-page booklet of poetry.

Words of comfort to remember someone special.

4925-48 Street, Camrose Phone 780-672-3142

Email ads@camrosebooster.com

Lenora Magnusson

May 13, 1951 ~ January 30, 2026

Lenora was born in Killam, AB, to Doris and Emil Siebold on May 13, 1951. She grew up on the family farm in the Gladstone area. She attended Bawlf School and then attended Alberta College in Edmonton. After a brief stint living at Redcliff, Larry and Lenora moved to the farm at Spy Hill, SK, where life was very busy raising four very busy boys.

Lenora enjoyed cooking and baking for her boys, including Icelandic food at Christmas time. She thoroughly enjoyed watching the many species of birds that showed up at her feeders, but she was especially fond of the orioles. Lenora planted roses and enlisted the help of Karin and Myron to plant trees in the fall. She enjoyed being outside, whether it was hiking and camping with Alberta relatives or watching the bears on her porch. She loved her rural life and her family.

She is survived by her sons Kristopher of Sky Hill, SK, Dyon of Kelowna, BC, Jonathan of Gerald, SK, and Tylynn (Savannah) of Sylvan Lake, AB; grandchildren from Dyon: grandson Parker (Ashley) and great-granddaughter Elenor, and granddaughter Marissa; and grandchildren from Ty (Savannah): granddaughter Lena and grandson Ruben.

Lenora is also survived by her sisters Karin Bjorge of Leslieville, AB, Carrie (Bob) Tulloch of Bawlf, AB; brother Howard (Brenda) Siebold of Killam, AB; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, brother-in-law Myron Bjorge and nephew Ben Siebold.

Lenora passed away peacefully with family by her side in Moosomin, SK, on Friday, January 30, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer.

A celebration of life will be held later in the spring at Hegre Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Brenda Lee Stoklosa

November 22, 1956 ~ February 9, 2026

Brenda Lee Stoklosa of Camrose, Alberta, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2026, at the age of 69 years.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Charlene (Devon) Hillyer and Trevor (Alisha) Stoklosa; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and siblings Lorraine (Dallas) Polei, Dianne (Al) Waselenchuk, Barb Christensen, Marian Fundytus and Brian Fundytus.

Brenda was predeceased by her parents Peter and Kay Fundytus; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Funeral Service was held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Century Meadows Baptist Church, 3720-66 Street, Camrose, officiated by Pastor Brett McCarroll.

If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Brenda’s memory may be made to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Phone 780-672-2121

“Dedicated service since 1906”

ving all families like

our own for over 119 years.

Colin grew up in Bawlf, Alberta, where he resided until he graduated high school. Through his teen years, Colin helped his grandparents Ed and Elaine Heck and father Greg at the UFA in Bawlf whenever they needed an extra hand. After high school, he attended MacEwan University and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

He then moved back to Camrose and worked in the retail industry for ve years, which is where he met his wife Taralie Carlton. Taralie is a registered nurse and works for Camrose Home Care. Married in 2016, together they have two boys, Rhett and Nash.

Colin enjoys curling, hockey, slo-pitch and golf in Camrose. Colin and Taralie live in Camrose and enjoy being active within the community, volunteering for various special events. He is currently part of the Camrose Men’s Night golf executive, is a past vice-president of the Rose City Curling Club, and served as a director for the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event that took place in Camrose in January of 2023.

Colin graduated from the Canadian College of Funeral Service in 2018, obtaining his funeral director’s and embalmer’s licenses. It is his honour and privilege to serve the people of Camrose and area. His compassionate nature and genuine love for people has made a great addition to the staff at Burgar Funeral Home.

Contact our office: 780-672-2121 Visit our website: www.burgar funeralhome.com

Elizabeth Esther Eliason

November 11, 1940 ~ February 10, 2026

Elizabeth “Liz” Esther Eliason of Camrose, Alberta, passed away on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the age of 85 years.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband Ron; and sister Irva Stevens. Liz was predeceased by her parents Oliver and Erma Selin; brother Reuben Selin; and sister Leona Carpenter.

A Funeral Service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Wilhelmina Evangelical Lutheran Church, 49108 Range Rd 210, Hay Lakes, officiated by Rev. Ron Chetney.

If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Liz’s memory may be made to Wilhelmina Evangelical Lutheran Church or St. Mary’s Hospital Camrose Foundation.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Phone 780-672-2121

“Dedicated service since 1906”

The family of Dennis Hartman

…would like to thank all the people who attended Dennis’ memorial. Thank you for all the cards, flowers and donations given. Your kindness is very much appreciated.

A special thank you to Bart and Colin at Burgar Funeral Home.

We are so thankful to Grand Trunk Landing for helping us when we needed it most.

Thank you to Robbie O’Riordan who helped us get through this difficult time.

– Dianne, Rhonda and Shane

Food for Thought: A local take on how we eat

By Adan Shaikh

The Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities (ACSRC) in partnership with the Food Artisans of Camrose County and supported by the Sustainable Food Endowment hosted another successful event in its Food Sustainability Lecture and Film Series. The evening opened with a welcoming spread of locally sourced refreshments and food items, setting the tone for a conversation around the food sources of the community.

Clark Banack, director of ACSRC, welcomed attendees and acknowledged the partnerships that made the series possible. “I am so happy to have you all here. This series has been a partnership with the Food Artisans of Camrose County and has been made possible through the Food Endowment Fund, a fund founded by community member Berta Briggs.”

The evening’s guest speaker was Laura Howard, a social entrepreneur and founder of Delicata Consulting. She invited participants to explore the principles behind local food systems, emphasizing the importance of food autonomy and sovereignty. She shared a quote from Prime Minister Mark Carney. “A country that cannot feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself has few options.”

She highlighted how “feed itself” comes before all else and, through her presentation, attendees learned how thriving local food economies can benefit communities and the importance of supporting producers in way that helps their operations flourish.

Howard has more than 20 years of experience supporting impact-driven projects in social innovation, community development, and entrepreneurship. She is the co-founder of social enterprises including Taking Root and Collectif Récolte and through her work, helps agri-food businesses grow sustainability while generating social and environmental impact.

“I started working in community economic development and I ended up working with a lot of farmers and the agriculture community. I fell in love with the people who were doing the work,” explained Howard.

She shared how she began noticing the many challenges and hardships farmers and their families were facing, realities that often go unseen. “When most of us think about a sustainable food system, we think of something that is ecologically responsible, giving back to the Earth, that is fair and accessible, and also if the farmers and

workers are getting fair wages,” shared Howard.

She shared several examples of established Food Hubs and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations. A key focus of the discussion was food hubs and food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is the right of people to define their own sustainable, culturally appropriate and healthy food systems, prioritizing local producers over corporate control.

Food hubs are a central business or organization that aggregates, stores, processes, markets and distributes locally produced food, linking small to mid-size farmers directly to wholesale, retail and institutional buyers. Howard shared examples of sustainable food initiatives from across Canada and encouraged participants to consider how communitydriven efforts can build resilient and inclusive food networks here in Camrose.

Howard also reflected on how local producers often maintain closer relationships with their communities compared to large-scale distribution chains. “We saw this during the pandemic in the U.S., when a bunch of larger distribution systems broke down because people were getting ill and they couldn’t show up to the factories. There were a lot of smaller regional food hubs that had relationships with farmers. I feel that picked up and they were able to fill the gap in the market,” explained Howard.

“If there is an external shock, the big box grocery store is most likely going to move, so that’s not sustainable, in terms of community investment,” added Howard.

She shared how often there are subsidies, policies and regulations in place that encourage outside grocery stores to stay or even move to certain communities. However, when unforeseen challenges occur, those food providers are most likely to move their operations elsewhere. Local growers and producers are invested in their communities and are less likely to leave in such events, meaning food shortages would be less likely.

Overall, the event opened a broader conversation about how and why communities can work together to build sustainable food systems and audiences had the opportunity to ask questions directly from an expert.

At the end of the evening, Banack announced plans to bring a similar initiative to Camrose and area, noting that preliminary work is already underway through ACSRC.

Helpful Tips for Writing Classified Ads Which Get Results!

Be Thorough

Sure you want your ad to stand out from the rest, but don’t skimp on the sort of information that sells. The item’s condition, size, age, brand name, and colour are some of the basics readers want to know. Without them, your ad may be overlooked.

Steer Clear of Abbreviations

Okay, so you want to include all the important basics. Don’t use strange abbreviations because our ads are designed to spell all the important details. Besides, you are not paying by the line, but by the word, so there is really no need to abbreviate.

Be Honest

Exaggerating your item’s finer points may bring in a lot of responses, but a buyer who’s misled won’t appreciate it and will take his business somewhere else.

State Your Price

The cost of an item is one of the most important concerns of want ad readers.

Ads showing prices are ones which get results. Giving a price also serves to “weed out” those buyers not in your price range.

Be Accessible

Including a telephone number or address puts you in touch with potential buyers.

Be sure to state the hours you can be reached: a caller who can’t get through the first time often won’t call again. Don’t hesitate to call us with any questions or problems you may have regarding advertising. Our professionally trained sales staff know the ropes, and would be happy to pass their know-how on to you. That’s why we’re here to help you get the results you deserve.

Call 780-672-3142

4925-48 Street, Camrose ads@camrosebooster.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GOURMET PANCAKE

SUPPER – St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, 4713-50 Street, Camrose. Tuesday, February 17, 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Adults $15, under 10 years free.

THANK YOU

ROUND HILL SENIORS

– would like to thank the community and volunteers for supporting our Pancake Supper on February 10.

PERSONAL

LOST THAT LOVING FEELING? Find it with a personal ad in The Camrose Booster classifieds. Ph. 780-672-3142.

TO GIVE AWAY

TWO PLAYFUL TAME WHITE KITTENS – 37 weeks old. Litter trained. Good mousers. Call me at 780-608-0355.

TWO PLAYFUL TAME KITTENS – 21 weeks old. Litter trained. Call me at 780-6086189.

WANTED

TWO 22.5 LB. DUMBBELLS – Metal or rubber covered. 780-877-3982.

HELP WANTED

LOOKING FOR SOME -

ONE WHO HAS – experience in pastry or confectionary. 3 days/ week. Email resumé to alchemist@brownscuriosities.com

SERVICES

SELF-INKING STAMPS –Every shape, size, and colour. We deliver, right to your office. Camrose Booster Ltd., 4925-48 St., Camrose. Call us at 780-672-3142.

McTAVISH DELIVERIES (2023) LTD.

Local and long distance moving Storage Insured and bonded Where your business is appreciated 780- 672-5242, Camrose

DSS CONSTRUCTION

Don’t put off those projects any longer! Give me a call and we can plan together. Devin Meakins, Ph. 780-853-1080

THE SHIRT OFF MY BACK

TAILORING in Camrose

Tues. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thurs. Evening and Sat.: By Appointment Closed: Sun., Mon. and Holidays Please call 780- 672-4793

FLAGSTAFF SMALL ENGINE, LAWN & GARDEN EQUIPMENT Parts – Service – Repair

• Free pickup and delivery within 50 km radius

• Residential snow removal starting at $300 monthly

• Haul away unwanted junk 780-281-1956 Strome, Camrose & area

IF YOU NEED A COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS –Please call Michael Syvenky at 780-707-0983. In this post for the 5th time. Appointee 0774586.

LOCAL HANDYMAN! –

Need a helping hand for repairs around the house? Over 20 years’ experience, licensed and insured. Baseboards, Basic Plumbing, Door and Window Installation, Soffit and Facia, Light Fixtures, Deck, Fence and Siding Repairs, Bathroom Vanities, Countertops and much more. Call or text Cory for a free quote in Camrose 780-686-4045 email: bluetruck13@hotmail.com

FOR RENT

FOR RENT ADS

NOW UPLOADED TO The Camrose Booster Website DAILY!

ROOMS FOR RENT in the Scotney and Jacqueline character homes. Both are 2.5 blocks from university in Camrose. Clean, quiet and bright. Rent is $495 - $600 monthly plus DD and includes WiFi, utilities, recycle pick-up, yard care and snow removal. Partially furnished w/ shared laundry. (Some rooms are fully furnished for international students.) This is an affordable, quality accommodation that fills quickly. (Some rooms still available.) No partiers, smokers or pets allowed. Reduced rate over the summer for students. Please call Dave P., 780678-6163.

MAIN STREET RETAIL

SPACE – located in high traffic, southerly area of Main Street, Camrose. Generous 1,664 sq. ft. of prime space at 4868-50 Street. Nicely decorated, air conditioned. $2263.04/mo., triple net. Clean, dry storage space in basement also available. Available immediately. Call Blain or Don at 780-672-3142, the fairest, most reasonable people in the business.

WELCOME TO TAMARACK PLACE – A great place to call home! We have a wonderful 2 bedroom apartment available. Rent includes stove, fridge, dishwasher, washer and dryer. Heat, water, Telus Optic TV and internet and one parking stall included. Small pet may be considered. This is a no smoking building. Beautiful social room and patio with an active senior group. Rent is $1,600/month. Call 780-233-0224.

Booster Classifieds

ESPECIALLY

NICE MAIN FLOOR OFFICE SUITE

Generous 794 sq. ft. suite, suitable for three or more staff. Includes two private offices. Ground floor, easily accessible. Modern building in downtown Camrose. Bright, quiet, air conditioned. $1263.78/mo., plus share of operating expenses. Call Blain Fowler or Don Hutchinson, 780-672-3142 days, two of the fairest, most reasonable fellows in the business.

PRIME DOWNTOWN

SPACE – 4917-50 Street. Second floor with reception area, lunch room and two private rooms. Elevator. $900/mo. includes utilities. 780-679-5085.

TWO-BEDROOM

SUITE

– Spacious and bright, with 2 balconies. Close to downtown, Mirror Lake, Augustana University. Clean, quiet, non-smoking building. Not suitable for small children, no pets. Locally owned and managed. In keeping with our existing tenant profile, we are seeking interest from mature, responsible adults. $1,150 per month, on a 12-month lease. Phone 780-679-7090.

LUXURY 1- AND 2-BEDROOM SUITES IN CAMROSE – Enjoy 24-hour monitored security, two elevators and an advanced intercom system. Each suite has six appliances, a private patio or balcony, one parking stall and window coverings. Residents enjoy a free year of TELUS TV, phone, and internet services. All units have highend modern finishes, ensuring a luxurious and stylish living experience. Quartz countertops and first class amenities await you! Two-bedroom suites have two bathrooms and a walk in closet! A community garden, dog park, bike storage in shared green space and a fitness centre are available to all tenants. Your visitors will love our guest suite. This is a 100% no smoking building and small pets may be considered. Now available. Check us out at paradoxcamrose.com, call or text 780-281-2366.

3-BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE – Brand new! $2400/ mo. including all utilities. Modern, comfortable living. Move-in ready and hassle-free. Contact 780-999-6304.

WELL MAINTAINED

APARTMENT – 4702-44 Street, Camrose. Ideal for one or two people. Quiet location, well suited for younger adults. $1400/ mo. includes utilities and parking. For more information, call 780-678-9246.

HOUSEHOLD

STARFRIT CHERRY PITTER – Brand new, never used. $21. Phone 780-678-0053.

STARFRIT ELECTRIC KNIFE – Used once. $30. Phone 780-678-0053.

VEGETABLE CHOPPER –$5. Phone 780-678-0053.

TWO BLACK WICKER CHAIRS – $20 for both. Phone 780-678-0053.

HORSE HEAD POST TOPPER – $50. Phone for picture, 780-781-5936.

MACHINERY

SWATHER NO LONGER ‘CUTTING THE MUSTARD?’ Call The Camrose Booster Classifieds, 780-672-3142.

REAL ESTATE

20-ACRE FARM FOR SALE – 1,100 sq. ft. three-bedroom bungalow, a/c, fully finished. large garden plot, fruit trees, berries, 12 acres alfalfa, 8’ game fence around property, large dugout, large ICF shop, large red hip-roof barn, chicken coop. 21040 Twp 452 – one mile off Hwy 21, one mile to New Norway School. For more information or to view, call 780-608-7441. (No Sunday calls please.)

MISCELLANEOUS

CPAP MACHINE – Philips DreamStation2 Advanced, used only 9 months. $300 obo. 780679-0122.

ACCORDIAN – Italian, phone for details. Best offer. 780781-5936.

AUTO

DADS – LOOKING FOR A CAR WITHOUT A BACK SEAT? Count on our classifieds. We match up buyers and sellers. Phone the Camrose Booster, 780-672-3142.

BOATS, RVS and TRAILERS

SELLING YOUR SEAWORTHY BOAT? Make a splash with an ad in the Booster classifieds! 780-672-3142. LOVE CAMPING, BUT TIRED OF SHOVELLING SNOW OFF THE AWNING IN MAY? Say goodbye to your Gulfstream! Move it fast with a Camrose Booster classified. 780-672-3142.

Battle River

Overhead Doors

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNIT

Y for an

OVERHE AD DOOR TECHNICIAN

Full -time position

Tasks include:

• Assisting in installation of overhead doors and operators

• Repairing and maintenance of overhead doors and operators

• Experience is an asset , but not essential

• Oppor tunit y for an ambitious worker to earn an excellent wage and includes a bene t package

Contact Travis Thompson Phone 780-678-5113 Email travisthompson_111@hotmail.com

FOR SALE BY TENDER

CAMROSE COUNTY

The following parcel of land is hereby offered for sale by tender, subject to the reser vations, exceptions, and other encumbr ances contained in the existing cer tificate of title:

MERIDIAN 4 R ANGE 19 TOWNSHIP 46

SECTION 29

QUARTER NORTH WEST

CONTAINING 64.7 HECTARES (160 ACRES) MORE OR LESS

EXCEPTING THEREOUT: HECTARES (ACRES) MORE OR LESS

A ) PL AN 1322891 6.14 15.17 – SUBDIVISION

EXCEPTING THEREOUT ALL MINES AND MINER ALS

The highest or any tender may not necessarily be accepted. All tenders must be in writing and include a deposit of $10,000.00 payable to KJF Law. Tenders will be accepted up to 12:00 noon on March 6, 2026 in a sealed envelope marked “Riske Tender” to the offices of :

KJF LAW

Barristers & Solicitors

4925-51 Street

Camrose, AB T4V 1S4

Attention: David R. Francoeur

Phone: 780-672-5561

The balance of the purchase price to be paid by solicitor’s trust cheque or cer tified funds on or before March 27, 2026, (“Closing Date”), or the deposit will be for feited.

The purchase and sale shall proceed utiliz ing title insurance including “G AP ” coverage. The cost of title insurance shall be borne by the Purchaser

No conditional tenders will be allowed and the highest or any tender for any parcel may not necessarily be accepted. Tenders will not be opened in public. Tender price excludes GST. Purchaser is responsible for all costs associated with registration of the Transfer Vendor makes no warranties or representations about the proper ty ’s size/measurement, condition or environmental status. If the successful tenderer fails to complete the purchase af ter acceptance of that tender, their deposit shall be for feited. Any unsuccessful tenderers will have their deposit returned by regular mail.

For fur ther par ticulars please contact David Francoeur at 780-672-5561.

This tender may also be viewed on the KJF Law website: www.kjf-law.ca

ANKERTON GAS

CO -OP Ltd.

Summer Employ ment

from May 1 to August 31, 2026

Clea n dr iv ing record

Map read ing

Some computer sk il ls are an asset

Dead li ne for appl icat ions is March 31, 2026

Forward your resu mé to:

An kerton Gas Co-op Ltd.

Box 10 0, Bawl f, AB T0B 0J0

Emai l ma nager@an kertonga s.ca

Only applicants chosen for interview will be contacted.

FARMLAND FOR SALE BY TENDER

Tenders for the pu rchase of 2 adjacent pa rcels of fa rm la nd in Ca mrose County as described below are invited. La nds will be sold subject to all existing reservations and exceptions stated on title.

The la nds are located 3. 5 miles east of Round Hill

LI NC: 0011 509 065

MERI DI AN 4 RA NGE 18 TOWNSH IP 48 SECT ION 27

QUARTER NORT H WEST

EXCEPTING THER EOUT ALL MINES AN D MINERALS

AR EA: 64.7 HECTAR ES (160 ACRES) MORE OR LESS

LI NC: 0011 509 073

TH E SOUT H WEST QUARTER OF SE CT ION TW EN TY

SEVEN (27)

TOWNSH IP FORTY EIGH T (48)

RA NGE EIGH T EEN (18)

WEST OF TH E FOURTH MERI DI AN

CONTAINI NG 64.7 HECATA RES (160 ACRES) MORE OR LESS

EXCEPTING THER EOUT: 0.417 HECTAR ES (1.03 ACRES) MORE OR LESS AS SHOW N ON ROAD PLAN 4389NY EXCEPTING THER EOUT ALL MINES AN D MINERALS

The SW 27-48-18-W4 has a si ngle-family dwelling, a shop with an addition, a ba rn with a lean-to addition, 7 grain bins, a fabr ic roof building, 3 stor age sheds, an old storage building and associated improvements There are approximately 90 cultivated acres and approximately 60 acres of past ure with the rest being fa rm site

The NW 27-48-18-W4 has no buildings or bi ns and has approximately 120 cultivated acres with the rest bush and slough

Both pa rcels must be sold for any sale to ta ke place.

Tenders are to be subm itted in sealed envelopes ma rked “W EBER Tender”, to Scott Fa rn ha m at Fa rn ha m West Stolee Kambeitz LLP, Ba rr isters and Solicitors, 5016 -52 St reet, Camrose, Alberta T4V 1V7, on or before 12:0 0 noon, FEBRUA RY 27, 2026, and shall be accompanied with GST number and a certif ied cheque or ba nk draft payable to Fa rn ha m West Stolee Kambeitz LLP in tr ust for 5% of the tender pr ice.

No conditiona l tenders will be accepted and the highest, or any tender, will not necessar ily be accepted Tenders may be made for individual or both of the said pa rcels but both pa rcels must be sold for any tender to be accepted

Tenders will not be opened in public The deposits of all unsuccessf ul tenderer s will be returned to them by regula r mail

The successf ul tenderer will be obligated to complete the pu rchase on or before MA RCH 30, 2026 The 5% deposit shall constitute a deposit towa rds the pu rchase price. Ta xes will be adjusted on closing date If the successf ul tenderer fa ils to complete the transaction by the closing date, the deposit will be forfeited.

Vendor ma kes no wa rranties or representations about the proper ty’s size, condition or envi ronmental st ate.

The pu rchase and sale shall proceed utilizing title insu ra nce including “GAP ” coverage The cost of title insu ra nce shall be borne by the Pu rchaser.

Tenders are ir revocable and shall remain open until dealt with by the offices of Fa rn ha m West Stolee Kambeitz LLP.

For further information or to view the proper ty, please contact David Weber at 780-94 0- 6947

For further information

Neighbor Aid Center

Continued from page 23

Food for Kids is another program that was established in 2000. It operates in partnership with six local schools to ensure that no student starts their day on an empty stomach. They provide nutritious morning meals through their breakfast club that helps children focus on better learning.

According to Jaime Ocampos, executive director of Neighbor Aid said, “The number of clients is rising, but we are managing to hold our own.” Currently, a local lawncare company is holding a fundraising campaign with their clients in February. Walmart is also running a food drive and collecting cash donations until March 5. They also compiled results from a survey in January and had some great feedback from clients. One of the questions on the survey was asking if the current hours were sufficient.

Most people replied saying yes. Jaime continued, “We know that many people are struggling right now and may need the foodbank. If our hours do not currently work for you, please give us a call at 780-679-3220 and we will see what we can do to help make sure you still get a hamper!”

The Neighbor Aid Center is providing some much needed assistance in the community and rely on community support to continue the good work they do.

If you are interested in helping them out, you could consider donating cash, non-perishable food items such as peanut butter or canned meats, or by volunteering.

Monetary donations are an effective way to help allow them to purchase food in bulk, or manage operational costs.

To best find out how to help in our community, reach out to Neighbor Aid by calling 780-679-3220, email nbaid@cable-lynx. net or visit their website at www.camroseneighboraidcenter.ca

INVITATION TO TENDER FARMLAND

FIRST PA RCEL:

TH E SOUT H WEST QUARTER OF SE CT ION THIRT EEN (13)

TOWNSH IP FORTY FOUR (4 4)

RA NGE SEVENT EEN (17)

WEST OF TH E FOURTH MERI DI AN

CONTAINI NG 64.7 HECTAR ES (160 ACRES) MORE OR LESS

EXCEPTING THER EOUT:

0.815 HECTAR ES (2.01 ACRES) MORE OR LESS AS SHOW N ON ROAD PLAN 8921491

EXCEPTING THER EOUT ALL MINES AN D MINERALS

SECOND PA RCEL:

TH E SOUT H EAST QUARTER OF SE CT ION THIRT EEN (13)

TOWNSH IP FORTY FOUR (4 4)

RA NGE SEVENT EEN (17)

WEST OF TH E FOURTH MERI DI AN

CONTAINI NG 64.7 HECTAR ES (160 ACRES) MORE OR LESS

EXCEPTING THER EOUT:

0.814 HECTAR ES (2.01 ACRES) MORE OR LESS AS SHOW N

ON ROAD PLAN 8921491

EXCEPTING THER EOUT ALL MINES AN D MINERALS

Tenders will be entertained for one or more pa rcels. Tenders will not be opened in public. Conditiona l tenders will not be accepted

The highest or any tender will not necessar ily be accepted The owner reserves the right to reject any and all tenders. Tenders are to be subm itted in sealed envelopes ma rked “MCTAV ISH

TENDER”, to Andreassen Borth, with the tenderer’s GST number, wh ich pa rcel is being bid on, and accompanied by a cheque made payable to “A nd reassen Borth” for 3% of tender pr ice and must be delivered before 12:0 0 noon on Ma rch 20 2026, to Andreassen Borth, Ba rr isters and Solicitors, #200, 4870 -51 St reet, Camrose, Alberta T4V 1S1, At tention: Ki rk Laird.

The tender pr ice does not include GST; the successf ul tenderer must pay GST to the Vendor based on the entire pu rchase price or provide GST number and GST Indemnity on or before the closing date

The ta xes will be adjusted as of noon on the closing date

There is cu rrently an an nual payment for a pipeline th rough the la nd. The most recent payment received was in approximately August, 2025, in the amount of $10, 26 4. The Vendor shall retain any pipeline payments received prior to closing date The Vendor ma kes no representations as to whet her such payments shall continue, but any payments received on or after the closing date shall belong to any successf ul pu rchaser. There shall be no adjust ment for the pipeline payment, wh ether it is received by the Vendor or by a successf ul pu rchaser.

The Fi rst Pa rcel cu rrently contains approximately 93 arable acres, 54 acres of past ure, and 11 acres of wasteland/slough The Second Pa rcel cu rrently contains approximately 119 arable acres, 33 acres of past ure, and 6 acres of wasteland/slough

The ba la nce of the pu rchase price shall be paid to Andreassen Borth on or before April 17, 2026 Tenders are ir revocable and shall remain open until dealt with by the offices of Andreassen

Borth. If a successf ul tenderer do es not complete the pu rchase after acceptance of that tender, thei r deposit shall be forfeited. Deposits received from unsuccessf ul tenderer s will be returned to them by mail

For further information about the la nd, please call Helen McTavish at 780- 679-0457. For questions regarding the tender process, call Ki rk Laird at Andreassen Borth 780- 672-3181

ÉCKS WINTER WALK

Nadine Leming, Camrose Booster

The temperatures felt more like spring as staff and students from École Charlie Killam School participated in Winter Walk Day on February 4.

RBC COMMUNITY GRANT

Submitted

Camrose RBC bank team members, retirees and family travelled to Ronald McDonald House (RMH) on February 1 to volunteer for the “Home for Dinner” program. From left, Tiffany Stetar, Reed Smiley, Joanne Wilton, Morgan Dempsey, Monica Rivera, Karen Loshny, Heather Smiley, Anna Ji, Laura Smiley and Monica Macedo. In addition to volunteering, the team also presented a $1,500 RBC Community Grant to RMH.

BRCF awards grant to Flagstaff’s Informed Response Sharing Team

Submitted by Laura Young

The Battle River Community Foundation awarded a $17,250 grant to Flagstaff’s Informed Response Sharing Team (FIRST). According to Stacey McLennan, coordinator of FIRST, “The continued partnership between FIRST and the Battle River Community Foundation is vital to nurturing new community initiatives, strengthening local collaboration, and creating lasting positive impact across the region.”

Support from the Battle River Community Foundation for FIRST will benefit both established and recent initiatives. An established initiative, Senior’s Choice Maintenance Program, provides light home maintenance, minor repairs, snow shovelling and other supportive services for lowincome seniors. This facilitates ageing in place, and also helps to combat feelings of social isolation and loneliness.

A recent initiative for FIRST is its Men’s Shed program. Men’s Sheds, are places where men can come together to work on individual or community projects, while also learning new skills, developing new friendships, and fostering feelings of purpose and belonging. At the same time, this coming together helps to address the rising issues of social isolation and loneliness, particularly among older men.

Finally, in response to growing community need,

Submitted

Wes Campbell, director with the Battle River Community Foundation Board, presents the cheque to Stacey McLennan, coordinator of FIRST.

FIRST is also looking to establish a series of peer and professionally facilitated support groups for seniors and caregivers.

FIRST intends to create groups for: caregivers managing the demands of supporting ill or aging loved ones; those dealing with grief and loss; cancer support, to connect those living with or recovering from cancer; and dementia related support, for both those experiencing memory loss and their families.

FIRST is celebrating its 30 year anniversary in 2026. The organization has grown to include a wide variety of services from youth babysitting courses to its very popular Care-AVan program for seniors.

On February 7, FIRST held its annual fundraising din-

ner. This year’s dinner was in Killam and was, by all accounts, a roaring success, raising some $45,173 for FIRST to continue their important work in the community.

The grant for FIRST is provided by the Daryl and Judy Larson Fund and the Battle River Community Foundation Community Fund.

The Battle River Community Foundation exists to support organizations in east central Alberta that benefit the local communities and positively impact the future.

Since it was founded in 1995, the Battle River Community Foundation has granted over $10,469,392 to support charitable activities in the Battle River Region.

Central Agencies Realty Home of the Week Lakeside opportunity

By Adan Shaikh

Set within the quiet resort community of Little Beaver Lake Estates, this 15.81-acre parcel in rural Camrose County offers both natural beauty and investment opportunity. Located right by the lake the property includes convenient access to the water.

One of the largest residential lots in the community, the land is fully fenced and gated, with utilities available at the lot line. Approximately half of the acreage is forested, featuring winding pathways and a small pond that adds to the tranquility.

Existing features include a stable and a camper stove, making this property perfect to be turned into a custom-

Matthew Mayer

built home, a lakeside cottage, or a private recreational haven, the property offers the flexibility to match a wide range of lifestyles.

Nearby communities are roughly 15 to 25 minutes away, providing convenient access to schools and shopping. With ample room for vehicles, equipment, and outdoor activities, it supports both relaxation and adventure in equal measure.

Located at 138, 44101 Range Road 214, this property is priced at $244,900 This land is a blank canvas, waiting to be transformed into something truly amazing.

For more information or to schedule a viewing, contact Matthew at:

Going for Gold

Olympic events in which I could successfully compete:

• Downhill spiralling

• Synchronized stressing

• Mental gymnastics

• Freest yle over thinking

I feel like a good par t of the Winter Olympic sports star ted out as dares that just got out of hand

Ever y Olympic event should include one average person competing for reference. Just imagine "And here's Don, who just learned the rules of curling five minutes ago. Check ou t that sweeping motion –you can tell he's swept a few floors in his life."

"Up nex t is Becky, she's ice skated twice in her life and today she is competing beside the best in the world! Oh, poor girl – she took a nasty fall! What a good sport though, look at her pulling herself up by the boards ."

Did you know you can just start calling yoursel f an Olympic hope ful? You don' t even have to fill out an application form or anything.

Can you imagine how fast the curling athletes vacuum their house?

Olympic ice skater lands a triple axel

Me : "Ohhhh wow, that was totally amazing!!!"

Commentator : " That was a completely sloppy land –downright deplorable. I can't belie ve we had to witness such an utter disgrace to the sport ."

I like watching the Olympics and guessing ho w far into each event I would become horrifically injured. Summer Olympics: " Watch this teenager run fast." Winter Olympics: " Watch this 42-year-old mother of three do a back flip o the side of a mountain."

Why is it that Olympic men's curling teams look like a group of dads who were just trying to get away from their families for the weekend at a farmers' bonspiel, bu t somehow ended up at the Olympics?

The Winter Olympics are really just several t ypes of sliding – sliding downhill on a board, sliding big stones onto a bull's eye , sliding downhill in a sleigh, sliding around a sheet of ice with sticks and frequent fights

" She could really tighten up that camel spin",

I mumble, while watching Olympics figure skating and cracking open my second bag of potato chip s. Winter Olympics are so violent. Ever yone is either wearing long blades on their feet , shooting rifles or flinging themselves down a mountain And let's not forget abou t curling!

Imagine the Olympics, but instead of it being world class athletes who compete , it's just random people. You'd get a letter informing you that you've been selected to compete on the national luge team and you have no choice bu t to do it – just like jury duty, but for the Olympics. You'd get a cheque for $75 per day and time o of work.

Olympic commentators are so entertaining –there's always one exper t and one regular person Expert : "Oh, her le ft foot was totally out of line by abou t half a degree there. I' ll be surprised if she'll be able to make up that 0.3 of a second."

Regular : "She grew up in Red Deer and has a parakeet."

I just watched an Olympian do a backflip on ice. Meanwhile, I just pulled a muscle while reaching for my box of cookies. I guess we all have our special event While watching Olympic ice skating yesterday, one of the figure skaters did a spectacular flip on the ice. Ironically, later that day, I also flipped on the ice in the grocer y store parking lot . I did not medal, but I did attract a crowd of onlookers

Husband : "I really think I'd be good at curling."

Wife : "I' ll gladly hand you a broom and yell ' Sweep!!!' if you want to practice."

Commentator : " This athlete is 33 years old –over the hill and riddled with injuries. His age really caught up to him in this competition."

Me : [turning 38 this week]

Having to go to work is really getting in the way of my Olympic viewing