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Vol. 21, No. 29, Wednesday, April 22, 2026
New Bruderheim CAO Experienced Leader reporter brought in to administer council decisions BY JOHN MATHER After a lengthy process, Bruderheim has named former Lamont Leader reporter Jana Semeniuk as their new Chief Administrative Officer. Semeniuk is a Bruderheim resident who has spent many years being involved in the community and reporting on its events and politics. Bruderheim made the announcement of her hiring on April 15 right at the end of the regular council meeting. In a recorded vote Mayor Ron Ewasiuk and Councillors Arlie Young and Luis Diaz supported the hiring of Semeniuk, while Councillor Dayna Jacobs opposed it. Semeniuk started her new position on April 16.
The town issued a release shortly after stating Semeniuk would officially join the leadership team to oversee its
core administrative functions and organizational planning. “With this transition, I would like to
Newly appointed Bruderheim Chief Administrative Officer Jana Semeniuk poses with Bruderheim Mayor Ron Ewasiuk after being named as the town’s chief administrator last week. Semeniuk is a former reporter with the Lamont Leader.
thank our Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dennis Tomuschat, who has been managing these additional responsibilities during the Interim period,” stated Mayor Ewasiuk in the release. “He will now resume his full-time responsibilities focused on the day-today operations for the Town.” The release concluded by stating, “This move allows both executives to dedicate their expertise to their positions, ensuring a more streamlined leadership structure as we move into our next phase of growth.” Semeniuk replaces Phyllis Forsyth who resigned last fall after the municipal elections brought in a majority of new councillors and a new mayor.
Calls grow louder for crosswalk Installation in Bruderheim BY MELISSA MACINTOSH-YOUNG A growing chorus of concern from residents, parents, and local officials is putting pressure on the Province to address what many are calling a serious safety hazard at the intersection of 48 Street and 52 Avenue in Bruderheim. The intersection, which falls under Provincial jurisdiction, serves as a critical link between the Bruderheim Childcare Centre and Bruderheim elementary school. Despite heavy daily foot traffic—particularly during morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups—there are currently no sidewalks, crosswalks, or pedestrian-controlled lights in place. That lack of infrastructure has sparked alarm among families who say children are being forced to navigate a busy roadway without basic safety
measures. In an effort to push for change, the childcare centre has launched a community-wide petition aimed at demonstrating the urgency of the issue. Organizers hope that strong public support will compel Provincial officials to act before a serious incident occurs. Taylor Peters is the executive director of the Bruderheim Childcare Centre. “I started the petition because the intersection is very busy and feels unsafe with no proper crosswalk or sidewalks. “We walk the children to the school, but it’s a high stress environment. We are constantly watching over our shoulders at all times, and with the children it can be unpredictable sometimes,” she said. “We always encouraging walking in a straight line, but they are just children so sometimes they can get a little
distracted. It also affects us in the colder months. We currently don’t walk children if it’s too icy or low visibility because we’ve seen cars speeding through that area, and can’t risk any “what if” situations of a vehicle not seeing us, or sliding through the intersection. “This further affects our ability to provide care for families that require it on those days,” said Peters. “They have to find alternative ways to get their children to school which sometimes include them not being able to work or going to work late. As a centre we do our best to have quality and safe care in our small town that has several families. I believe that the areas surrounding us should also reflect that. It’s crazy to me that there is a school and daycare there, but no safety regarding transportation and several children (not just
children at the centre) have to use that intersection to walk to school. Our educators wear a high visibility vest, but no one else does” While the Province has acknowledged the Town’s request, a March 11, 2026 email response from Derrick Wilson, Operations Manager for Transportation & Economic Corridors, indicated “that the audit for the intersection is on hold due to budget cuts” —an answer that has done little to ease community frustration. Bruderheim Mayor Ron Ewasiuk has taken the concerns directly to the Province, reaching out to both the Transportation Minister and local MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk. In his correspondence, Ewasiuk emphasized that the intersection presents a significant and growing safety risk. Continued on Page 19