September 24 Tofield Mercury

Tofield RCMP detachment welcomes permanent commander

The Tofield RCMP detachment has now filled the role of commander after over a year of filling the position with several interim members, welcoming Sgt. Clayton Mamchur on his first day Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Mamchur was raised in Meadow Lake, SK, but since his graduation from Depot in 2007, has served exclusively in Alberta over the last 18 years.

“Directly prior to Tofield I was stationed in Okotoks. Throughout my career I have also been posted to Smoky Lake, Didsbury, and Bassano, AB. While the majority of my career has been spent in southern Alberta, I started out in Eastern Alberta District and am happy to be back,” Mamchur said.

Before becoming a member of the RCMP, Mamchur was a social worker in northern Saskatchewan, first working in Child Protection and then as a Youth Probation Officer.

“It was due to my work alongside the RCMP as a Probation Officer that I decided to switch tracks and progress my career in policing. I was inspired by their dedication and by the expansive scope of their duties. It was due to this insight that I decided to join the RCMP.

“Being a police officer can be

challenging at times but affords me the ability to intervene in diverse situations, help people in need, and effect positive change. Overall, I have found policing to be a very rewarding career and I have never regretted my decision to become a police officer,” Mamchur said.

In his role in Tofield, Mamchur is dedicated to serving and protecting the community and maintaining open communication.

“In my experience, police transparency is crucial to developing trust and sustaining partnerships. I will ensure our lines of communication remain open, and that we are continually progressing ways to improve this. Police are accountable and responsible for diligently serving the public while remaining actively engaged within our communities,” he said.

Mamchur said his attention will also be directed specifically towards reducing property crime and enhancing public safety.

“To that end, your Tofield RCMP will keep addressing rural crime by completing regular patrols, while continuing to cooperate with our enforcement partners (such as the intelligence analyst, Probation, Community Peace Officers, Citizens on Patrol group, etc.) to collectively combat crime. We will also work on

prevention and will provide information on ways the public can reduce their likelihood of victimization.

“Additionally, your Tofield members will continue to focus their attention on reducing dangerous driving behaviours (such as: impaired, distracted and/or aggressive driving) by conducting targeted enforcement, utilizing roadside alcohol screening devices, and conducting check stops to further enhance road safety. I will directly support my officers in this by ensuring they have the tools and training necessary to effectively do their jobs,” he said.

Mamchur said that suggestions on how the police can improve are always welcome, and he encourages the public to stop by the detachment to share concerns or report suspicious activity they feel should be looked into, which he said can include unexpected vehicles, strange people, and unusual circumstances.

Mamchur is living in Sherwood Park with his spouse and young child, though he said he would have like to secured a home in town.

“I sincerely wanted to move to Tofield but I unfortunately was unable to find a place here in the time I had available. However, I have purchased a home in nearby Sherwood Park,” he said.

“I am very happy to be posted to Tofield and am looking forward to working toward the betterment of our communities,” he said.

The Tofield RCMP detachment had been without a permanent commander since June 2024, when the then-commander Sgt. Cameron Paul underwent disciplinary action and Cpl. Kenneth Petruik was brought on as the acting commander for three months. In

September 2024 Cst. Steve Genereaux came out of retirement to hold the position until November 2024 when Cpl. Stephen Cunningham from St. Paul held the role until January 1, 2025. Sgt. Kenneth Sawyer was the acting commander for a few months until he was stationed back in Fort McMurray and Cpl. Cunningham returned as interim commander until just last week, with Sgt. Mamchur now at the helm.

Community meeting held to discuss potential K-12 school in Tofield

Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

Tofield parents and community members were invited to C.W. Sears Elementary School on Tuesday, Sept. 9, regarding Battle River School Division’s 2026-2029 capital plan report which has the replacement of both Tofield schools to build one K-12 school in Tofield as the top priority. With the information available from the capital plan, which can be found on BRSD’s website, C.W. Sears principal Adam Madsen said that the school council had expressed interest in having some members from BRSD visit to answer questions or provide more information on the capital plan.

School boards are required to submit a three-year capital plan to Alberta Education each year, and C.W. Sears School has been on BRSD’s list for replacement since 2019.

Some of the issues with the elementary school building, as outlined in the capital plan report, is that the floor is separating from the walls in specific locations, there are numerous places where adjoining walls are separating from each other, and the issue of only one set of washrooms in the school.

“Approximately a year ago,” Beaver County Trustee Lyle Albrecht said, “the Board undertook a value scoping exercise at C.W. Sears School to figure out if we're going to get money to fund a school for a build or modernization, to determine what's the best route to go.

“Every year the provincial government gets approximately 300 requests for modernization or builds of schools. They try to do a short list down to about 30 to 40, if I'm not mistaken, so what we wanted to do was try to have the best possible chance of success. The criteria the government

goes by, I believe, is when the cost of modernization gets to 70 per cent, they say, now it's time to build,” he said.

Albrecht said the biggest problem of retrofitting schools is asbestos. C.W. Sears was built in 1979 and Tofield School was built in 1952.

“Remediation costs are astronomi-

cal, plus, how do you run a school when you're trying to rebuild one at the same time? It also does not make sense to build a brand-new school 100 yards away from one that's 70 years old and the chances of getting two schools replaced is slim to none,” Albrecht said.

Continued on Page 7

Parcel

Parcel #2 - Selling the NW 14-54-15 W4M Being 160 Acres M/L - County of Two Hills

Parcel #3 - Selling the NE 11-54-15 W4M Being 159 Acres M/L - County of Minburn

Parcel #4 - Selling the SE 11-54-15 W4M Being 159 Acres M/L - County of Minburn

Street Address: 5302 46th Ave, Two Hills, AB Legal: Plain 6104NY, Blk 15 Being 2.17 Acres M/L

Tofield Welcome Committee looking for volunteers

Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

Brenda Chehade, Tofield Town Councillor, was present at the Tofield and District Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the Beaverhill Lake Nature Centre to provide an update on the

Chehade provides update to Tofield Chamber

welcome baskets that the Tofield and Area Welcome Initiative provides to new residents of the community.

Chehade said the committee is looking for more volunteers, as putting the baskets and information binders together is too much work for one person.

“There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work with the binders, and Tom Keller, who was helping me a lot but has also been very involved with the Tofield Golden Club, collected a lot of swag from the local businesses, so I was able to make up a whole bunch of bags,” she said.

Chehade said people often express gratitude receiving a welcome basket and are frequently surprised at how much the community has to offer.

“The baskets are very important for new people and they are so appreciative with receiving it all, especially the binders, be-

CouncilCorner

Becoming a Councillor or Mayor can be difficult - but rewarding

Every four years marks the cycle for elected Municipal Governments. Given this, 2025 sees an upcoming local election for the positions of Mayor and Councillor. The date for the 2025 election will be October 20th.

Now, what does it mean to be an elected official? It means you believe in the democratic process for your community and for those that you serve with as an elected official.

It means that you believe in the greater good for Tofield and not your own personal gain or agenda. It also means that you believe in making a difference and are not opposed to making difficult unbiased decisions driven by logic as opposed to emotional responses. This in itself is not an easy task.

Being an elected official means you have

cause it has so much information in it.

“They just can't believe how much this little place really does have to offer, and I always say, and there's so much more,” she said.

Chamber president Greg Litwin said a list of Chamber members is provided to the Welcome Initiative so that business and organization information is sure to be part of the information binder.

“There is no additional cost; it’s part of your annual membership fee, and if you want to add swag, I put that in the basket as well,” Chehade said.

Chamber treasurer Serena Statler asked

Chehade how much in terms of the number of swag items from one business that she would look for to fill the baskets.

“I average anywhere between 20 and 40 people a year that I bring baskets to, so if you give me 40, then I’m set for about a year,” Chehade said.

Welcome baskets are also provided to new Beaver County residents, not just people who have moved to the town of Tofield.

“I was doing Ryley as well, but I've got to double check with them as I think they may have somebody doing a little welcome basket over there themselves,” she said.

time to commit to the position. There are Regular Council Meetings held on the second and fourth Monday of each month. Each Councillor is also required to sit as a member of Boards, Commissions or Committees. Each member typically sits on a minimum of three of the aforementioned.

Each Board etc. will require the necessity for meetings which are typically held in the evenings. There is also a responsibility to engage in these meetings and to be prepared to review material ahead of time.

Therefore, the monthly requirements of an elected official can certainly vary based upon meetings, material review and other engagements which may arise.

Now, although monthly time dedication, meetings etc. may sound daunting, I can assure you providing a service to the commu-

nity is extremely rewarding. Serving the community for the greater good and making a difference is at times humbling but must be done with both passion and grace.

To those that have submitted their official Nomination Papers, each will have an opportunity to speak to the electorate during an:

All-Candidates Forum, hosted by the Tofield and District Chamber of Commerce on October 7th at the Community Hall.

Further, to each of you, collectively we wish you success in serving the community with the best of intention and solid decision making.

Respectfully submitted, Mayor and Council

Tofield to leave community standards bylaw to new council

Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

Council for the Town of Tofield went through the newly proposed version of the Town’s community standards bylaw last week, after having decided at the August 11 meeting to review it for discussion at the Sept. 8 meeting.

Deputy Mayor Harold Conquest began the discussion by first saying he thought it best to only do first reading of the bylaw, so that the new council, which will be set after the municipal election on Monday, Oct. 20, will have to read through it.

“First of all, I want to say I think we should only give this first reading tonight, make whatever changes we think are advisable, and then we should turn it over to those who are going to have to enforce it and get their comments on it,” Conquest said.

Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Edwards said that he actually was not looking for any readings at that meeting, just feedback.

“I was actually not going to ask for any readings, and the reason being is there has not even been a number assigned to this particular bylaw proposal. I am mostly interested in feedback from council before even first reading was suggested,” Edwards said.

Councillors had read through the 18page document and made notes, which were individually brought up and discussed, some points of which were reworded for clarity or removed altogether.

The draft bylaw proposal can be found on the Town’s website, in the Sept. 8 agenda package available to the public. Notably, under public behaviours, number 13 was removed.

“No Person shall stand or put their feet on the top of a table or surface of any table, bench, planter, sculpture, or other fixture in a Public Place.”

Tofield

Conquest suggested to council, “What if, at Winterfest you have to stand on a bench to address the crowd? Are you going to be fined?”

Edwards agreed, and said that was something he felt should be removed from the bylaw as well. Mayor Deb Dueck also agreed, and asked who would be enforcing that.

“I find it very draconian. Come on, we're a small town,” Conquest said.

It was noted that the Town of Tofield did not write the bylaw but that it was brought forward to Tofield Council because the Town of Vegreville is also reviewing their community standards bylaw, and Tofield contracts their peace officer from the Town of Vegreville.

“The Town of Vegreville is looking at potentially implementing this and the reason that it's being brought forward to Tofield Council is because our current enforcement for peace officer services is provided by the Town of Vegreville. So, if the bylaws coincide it's easier for the enforcement officer to be able to refer to one bylaw as an institute,” Edwards said.

Councillor Norm Martineau said that there's no use keeping something in the bylaw that the Town is not going to enforce.

Council also decided to have numbers 15 to 18 under public behaviours removed, which prohibits bullying.

“I wouldn't disagree with removing it, either,” Dueck said, “because I think it's beyond the scope of what our enforcement officers should do. I think that comes into parents, it comes into the RCMP,” she said.

Council also discussed several other points including graffiti, water runoff, what can be stored on vacant lot properties, boarding up unoccupied buildings, and smoking, vaping, and cannabis use.

The bylaw will be brought back with the amendments Council discussed.

to vote in councillors in upcoming election

Eric Anderson Publisher

Monday, September 22 marked Nomination Day across the province for the upcoming Municipal elections.

The names of the candidates locally are in, with some still listed as unofficial at press time.

Town of Tofield received two nominations for the mayoral race. Darren Erickson and Rev. Adam Hall will aim to fill the seat of outgoing mayor Deb Dueck.

Nominations for the four open council seats were as follows: Harold Conquest (incumbent), Jennifer Durrant, Clayton Roe, Larry Tiedemann (incumbent), Brenda Chehade (incumbent), Dustin

UNRESERVED 2-DAY FARM EQUIPMENT AND ANTIQUE AUCTION SALE STAN TURBIARZ REDWATER, ALBERTA

SATURDAY, OCT. 4 AT 10:00 A.M.

SUNDAY, OCT. 5, 2025 AT 10:00 A.M.

DIRECTIONS: Being from the Junction of Highway 28 West of Redwater and Opal Rd (Rg Rd. 224) go 2 miles north to Township Rd 580, then 1/2 mile west.

DAY ONE - SATURDAY, OCT. 4

Tractors: JD 4430 Powershift Trans, triple hyd., dual PTO, duals, CAH, approx 9000 hrs., S/N 4430T030594R; White 2-150 Tractor Field Boss, CAH, duals, dual hyd.

Vehicles: 1980 Chev 60 3T Truck, V8, 5x2 sp trans, 18-ft box, hoist, roll tarp, S/N C16DBAV101426; 1968 Ford 2T Cabover Truck c/w V8, new 16-ft box & hoist, roll tarp, new rubber, S/N C80WUC73077; 1980 GMC 35 Aristocrat 18-ft Motorhome, awning, nice & clean, S/N 2GD5G31M1B4506909; 1976 F150 Ford Ranger Supercab, 400 eng, auto, S/N X155KD29705; 1980 GMC IT Dually Truck, 454 eng, 4-sp, trans c/w Steel Welding Deck S/N TCU33AV678557; 1956 GMC 2T Truck c/w grain box & hoist; 332 V8 4sp; 1969 Chev Cab Over Fire Truck, V8, 4sp, S/N TE639P867981; 1952 IHC 1T Truck, 6 cyl. 4sp trans, stepside, box; 1986 Chev Caprice; 81-82 Chev Impalas; 1972 Monte Carlo; NOTE: Cars not running Trailers: SWS 16-ft Tandem Axle Trailer c/w 7 1/2 ft x 16 ft deck c/w ramps, like new, S/N 34666

Single Axle Trailer c/w 8-ft x 10-ft deck, NVSN; Single Axle Trailer c/w 4-ft x 8-ft box & tarp, NVSN; Single Axle Trailer c/w 8-ft x12-ft tilt deck & lights, NVSN

Recreational: 1969-72 Skidoo Snowmobiles, not running; 2018 Polaris Ranger 4x4, Side by Side, diesel, dump box, S/N 4XARTAD13J887, 386 hrs; Cat 650 Quad 4x4 c/w winch & front & rear racks, S/N 44F06ATV67T2, 186 hrs

Vintage Tractors: Ferguson TEA 20 Tractor, PTO, 3-ph; Cockshutt 30 Gas; Cockshutt 30 Gas PTO, pulley; IHC W6 gas, PTO, pulley; Case DC, Pulley PTO; Oliver Super 88 gas hyd., PTO, Pulley; MH 33 Special Rowcrop, PTO, pulley; Fordson Major Longhorn, pulley, PTO, 3-ph; JD D, Electric Start, new rubber, PTO; Case S, hyd, pulley, PTO; MH 44 Special, Gas, PTO, pulley; MM U, Pulley, PTO; AC WD 45 PTO, 2-point hitch; MH 44 c/w hyd., PTO, pulley; 15-30 McCormick; Cockshutt 550 Gas, Hyd, pulley; MH 101 Junior Twin Power; Cockshutt 40 gas, PTO, pulley; Oliver 40 Gas Hyd, PTO, pulley; Cockshutt 40 hyd., PTO, pulley; Case VA, PTO, pulley; NOTE: All the tractors have not run for many years. Always shedded

Machinery: NH 688 Autowrap Round Baler c/w gathering wheels, 540 PTO; NH 315 Square Baler, hyd., tension, super sweep pick-up; NH 1033 Square Bale Wagon; 2 Wheel Front Mount Swath Turner; NH 144 Hay Converter; NH 1100 12-ft SP Haybine; Vicon 5W Hay Rake; Allied 24ft Bale Elevator; NH 1033 Bale Wagon; NH 1100 SP Haybine, parts; MF 760 Diesel SP Combine; Kongskilde 500 Grain Vac c/w hoses; JD 15-ft 800 SP Swather; Farm King 15-section Harrow Draw Bar c/w HD harrows; Farm King 620 3-ph or Trailer Rough Cut Mower; Farm King HD Wagon, c/w deck, hauls 14 bales; JD 3100 6Bottom Plow c/w coulters; 2 Wheel Swather Mover; 10-ft Root Rake c/w hyd. lift; Allied 7-inch x 36-ft Auger c/w 16-hp motor; Case 6 x 6-inch Plow c/w coulters

Miscellaneous: JD C20 16-ft VS Cultivator; Wooden Wheel Wagon c/w grain box; Horse Sleigh; Covered Wagon c/w poles, no tarp; Bobsleigh; Minature Horse Wagon; Poly Feeder; New Tombstone Feeder; Clover Bar Saddle; Assort Horse Tack; Assort Feed Tubs; New Trailer Wood Splitter; (2) 3-ph Yard Sprayers; Anhydrous Gophinator Tank; Soil Saver 3-ph 8-ft Cultivator; AC 2-ph Semi-Mount 7-ft Mower; IHC No. 80 Pull Type Combine; AC Roto Baler; Ferguson 8-ft Drag Disc; 3-ph 8-ft Cult; New 3/4-inch Plywood; Tidy Tank c/w EL pump; Genie TML4000 Diesel Light Tower; Ferguson 3-ph Dirt Mover; FEL Bale Fork; New & Used Front & Rear Tractor Tires, Various Sizes; Assort Hyd. Rams; Assort. Used Tractor Parts; Assort Water, Air, Hyd Hoses; New Idea Ground Drive Manure Spreader (restored); Admiral Stationary Wire Tie Baler; 6 ft Brundt Press Drill; IHC PTO Manure Spreader; Assort Steel Gates; Hyd. Trailer Pocket Gopher Plow; 40-ft Pipe Frame Tandem Axle Trailer; Assort. New Solar Panels; Parts Washer; Drill Presses; Coates 1010 Tire Changer; Solar Lights; Solar Fencers; Imp. Jacks; Air Comp;

tion

DAY TWO - SUNDAY, OCT. 5

Terpstra, Elaine Taylor, and Samantha Giegold.

Village of Ryley received a total of six candidates vying to fill five open spots. They are: Stephanie Dennis (Incumbent), Cyndy Heslin, Stephanie Jackel, Kimberly Murphy (incumbent), Dale Roth, and Mickey Wilson.

Eight candidates were received by Village of Holden to fill the five available council positions. They are: Mark Giebelhaus, John Markel (incumbent), Tyler Beckett (incumbent), Alan Ramshaw, Shawn Cole (incumbent), Carl Marsh, Tammy Lynn Hill, and Graeme Duckworth.

Alberta’s municipal elections are scheduled for October 20. Those elected to council will serve a four year term.

Antiques & Collectibles: Large Assort Old Tools; Assort Bells; Antique Musical Instruments; Military Wheel Chair & Stretcher Combination; Copper Washing Machine; Assort Old Dishes & Bottles; Fire Hose Reel Cart; Grain Crushers; Forges; Anvils; Railroad Tool Car; Rocking Butter Churn; Wall Clocks; Assort. Coal & Wood Stoves; Spinning Wheels; Leather Vise; Crocks; Cream Cans; Assort. Binder Twine; Lamps; Crosscut Saws; Esso & B/A 7-ft Signs; Cast Iron Tubs c/w legs; Assort Phones; Insulators; Oil Tins & Pails; Dough Machine; Butter Churns; Coal Pails; Oil Dispenser; Pot Belly Stoves; CNR Stove; Stationary Engine; Well Pumps; Toledo Scale; Cream Separators; Wool Carder; Tabacco Cutter; 32 Volt Jacobs Wind Charger; MH Feed Cutter; Assort. Antique Washing Machines; JD 8inch Steel Wheel Cultivator; Potato Planter; Large Assort. Horse Hay Mowers; Hay Dump Rakes; Gang Plows; Assort. Oil Seed Drills & Cultivators; Hay Loader; Disc Plows; Freznos;

Village of Holden to modernize Land Use Bylaw

Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

The Village of Holden held an open house at the Holden Community Hall on Monday, Sept. 8 to discuss the current Land Use Bylaw (LUB) with residents, to hear what is working and what’s not. The Village is currently in the process of reviewing and updating the bylaw to modernize the document so that it is simpler, clearer, and better reflects the current and future needs of the community.

Chief Administrative Officer Rosemary Offrey, Mayor Tyler Beckett, and Councillor John Markel were in attendance, along with Baily Lapp, Manager of Planning Services at Beairsto & Associates.

“We had three focused topics for the public: tiny homes, mixed use developments on main street, and fencing,” Lapp said, “because those are the common items that Rosemary (Offrey) gets phone calls about, so we thought that we would ask the public if they would like to see any changes with those items. “We also asked general questions about the LUB as a document itself, things like whether they would like to see a reduced number of districts, to see the bylaw as a whole just shorter, or maybe add infographics to make it a little easier for the reader.”

Questionnaires were available for residents to fill out, to provide their opinion on the focused topics and to comment on any other part of the LUB.

“What's come out of it that we weren't anticipating is the want for agricultural animals, which included a horse and bunnies,” Lapp said.

Lapp met with Council at their regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 15 to provide an overview of what was discussed at the open house, and the next steps.

“Twenty-three people attended the open house, which is pretty good attendance for a village. There was strong support for tiny homes; 100 per cent of people said they would like tiny homes considered,” Lapp said. Lapp said people were most comfortable having tiny homes on permanent foundations, saying that units on wheels without connections should be considered RVs, not longterm dwellings.

“Everyone seemed fairly aligned with this topic. I don't necessarily think that you need to add tiny homes as a definition in the LUB, per se, because the Alberta Safety Code regulation does not have a definition for tiny homes. You could go about it in two different ways. You could have tiny homes shown in the definition, that says, ‘see

single family dwelling,’ or you could have a tiny home threshold. In other municipalities I've worked in, I've put the threshold as a maximum 400 square feet, and anything less than that would be a tiny home. If you put a size limit on it, then a single-family dwelling in your LUB would be anything larger than 400 square feet.

“The next step in the process is me drafting the LUB, so I would be looking for some clarity from Council on how you feel you would like to move forward with tiny homes in the draft, or I could draft it and then you could give me your thoughts on how I wrote it,” Lapp said. Mixed-use development on main street was generally supported, as long as the business part is open. “The need for active storefronts was mentioned by almost everyone. They feel that having a residential home with no business attached on main street really takes away from the main street purpose. The economic realities of a home and a business in one building is flexible and financially appealing, but the concern is that inappropriate uses might be

allowed in there. They don't want a business in front and an Airbnb in the back,” Lapp said. Respondents also said that unfinished storefronts negatively impacts the appearance of 50 Street and was top priority.

Continued on Page 9 The Tofield

“On assessment fairness they are in full support of full commercial assessment, whether there's a business there or not. Basically, if the property is on main street and it's zoned commercial, then you pay commercial taxes, whether you live there or not,” Lapp said. Resident concerns on the third topic, fencing, was particular to building materials and appearance.

“They want a policy that states that you can't reuse materials, or you can't use unsightly mate-

rials for your fence. They want the fences to be good quality. There was general support with the maximum fence height rules, and banning razor wire or barbed wire fences was supported,” Lapp said.

Some residents suggested that allowances be made for higher fences in some cases, in order to

• Must have experience

• Able to work under pressure

• Available to work any day of the week

• Flexible hours

• Attentiveness and have patience

Drop off your resume in person (ask for Wally)

BSc. Pharmacy 2025 Mayoral Candidate Tofield Business Owner for 37 years Extensive Board & Director Experience Involved in Community Supportive & Progressive

My name is Darren Erickson, and I am honored to submit my name in the upcoming election for Mayor of Tofield.

I have lived, worked and owned a business in Tofield since 1988. Since marrying my wife, Gayleen Neufeld-Erickson, a lifelong resident of Tofield in 1993, we have built a rewarding life here together.

Over the years I have gained extensive experience serving on boards and committees. These include:

1. Member and President – Tofield Business Association (Chamber of Commerce)

2. Board of Directors – Drug Trading, Markham, Ontario

3. Member and Chairman– Economic Development and Recreation Board, Town of Tofield

4. Board Member and Chairman– Tofield Health Foundation

5. Secretary/Treasurer and President – Alberta Pharmacists’ Association (RxA)

One of my proudest contributions was working on and with the Tofield Health Foundation Recruitment and Retention Committee, to attract three physicians to our community. In 2010 we were at risk of losing our last physician and along with that, many essential health services. Thanks to the Tofield Health Foundation and current physicians’ dedication, Tofield has maintained and expanded many health services and kept the ER department at the Tofield Health Centre open.

I believe Tofield is well-positioned for growth. The hospital, health unit, schools, optometry clinic, medical clinic, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses make Tofield a great destination. The town has tools and incentives in place through by-laws such as #s 1345 and 1346 which encourage development and investment in new homes and businesses. We must ensure newcomers are aware of these opportunities, with the Town Office supporting them in accessing these well thought out programs.

New projects will continue to be assessed carefully, balancing community needs with budgets, expenses, and property tax levels. When projects involve areas outside of Tofield that may impact our community, they are discussed at the Intermunicipal Committee Meeting with the County of Beaver to ensure collaboration and address potential challenges and synergies. I have developed and continue to have relationships with our county Reeve, past MP, local MLA and many community leaders.

In every role I have served, my focus has always been on the future of Tofield. Each group, club, committee and council contributes to the strength of our community and all have a voice in shaping its direction.

Sincerely, Darren Erickson

JOHN’S RANT OPINION

This Alberta Sovereignty nonsense is beginning to get out of hand.

There are several vocal organizations that have shouted from the hilltops that this province must separate itself from the rest of Canada if it is to reach its true potential.

There is another group that is asking people to sign a petition whether they would or would not like to remain in Canada

This petition started by former Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk has been sanctioned by Elec-

Getting started in today’s job market isn’t easy, especially for young people. Many teenagers and young adults are genuinely eager to get their first real job and start making money, but employers don’t always have the resources to take a chance on someone new. That’s why United Conservatives are introducing the Alberta Youth Employment Incentive.

This $8 million program will help 1,000 businesses hire 2,500 young Albertans between the ages of 15 and

tions Alberta while no separation petition has. Some are before the courts.

I looked on the Forever Canada website and it appears they have multiple locations where people can sign their petition.

Most are in the province’s urban centres.

I saw one petition location in Camrose but none in Lamont County or Beaver County. No sign of this petition in Bruderheim, Lamont, Chipman, Andrew or Mundare.

Nor does it appear to have traction in Tofield,

Ryley or Holden. Maybe there areas are chocked full of diehard separatists.

Or more likely, like me, they just don’t care about any of these frivolous petitions.

They are residents of both Alberta and Canada!

Like me they have Canadian birth certificates from the province they were born in and Canadian passports. They pay income tax to Canada.

It’s been that way in Alberta since 1905.

Alberta Premier

News from the Legislature

Jackie Lovely MLA for Camrose Constituency

24.Employers who hire these young Albertans will receive direct support to cover training and wages, making it easier for businesses to open their doors to the next generation of Alberta’s workers.

Starting next month, businesses can apply through CAREERS: The Next Generation, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting young people with job opportunities.

Employers who participate can receive $4,000 if they hire one to two young workers, or $7,500

Alberta P.O. Box 150, Tofield, Alberta T0B 4J0 Phone 780-662-4046 E-mail: (Advertising): adsmercury@gmail.com, (News): news.tofield@gmail.com

if they hire three to five. On top of that, Alberta’s government will help cover $10 for every hour worked by a young employee.

This incentive is about giving young Albertans a chance to prove themselves, gain real skills, and build the confidence that comes with a meaningful job. To make these opportunities even more rewarding, young Albertans who complete at least 200 hours on the job and pass a skills check from their employer will earn a spe-

Thesillinessofsovereigntyandseparationpetitions

Danielle Smith has stated on many occasions she is a supporter of Canadian unity. This has raised the ire of one separatist group.

The Republican Party of Alberta, – a party that holds no seats in the Alberta Legislature, stated in a press release this past weekend, “The Republican Party of Alberta (RPA) condemns Premier Danielle Smith’s shocking declaration that she is “doing everything I can” to prevent a vote on Alberta sovereignty. This statement is a betrayal of a

growing number of Albertans and UCP members demanding independence from Canada.”

Well, there may be some claiming to separate from Canada, but is it the majority?

The RPA states it is around 40 per cent. Certainly when I took math that wasn’t a majority.

The Republican Party of Alberta goes on, “Her refusal to embrace Alberta independence is not leadership; it is capitulation”

RPA Leader Cameron Davies said, “Danielle

to

Alberta’s sovereignty vote is a cowardly retreat. Her backpedaling proves she’s more loyal to her political survival than to our future.”

While there is a modicum of truth in this statement, she is looking at her political survival (that’s part of her job) it’s not the whole truth. She is also representing the majority of Albertans’ interests in getting a better deal for our oil and gas industries, our agriculture

Continued on Page 16

Support provided for youth employment

cial digital badge. This badge can be added to resumes and job applications, showing future employers they have what it takes to succeed at work.

Whether it’s in a smalltown business, a farm, a local shop, or at a growing company in one of our cities, these opportunities will help young Albertans start building their careers right here at home. At the same time, employers get the energy and ideas that young workers bring to the table.

United Conservatives

are committed to making sure Albertans of all ages have the tools, training, and support they need to thrive. By investing in young Albertans today, we’re building a stronger workforce for tomorrow.

Each summer, I hire students to assist me with outreach work in the constituency. I hope you have enjoyed meeting them. They enjoyed meeting all of you and appreciated the opportunity to have work, gain some experience, get a reference and save a bit of money.

I hope our local employers will join me in developing our youth and patiently spend time with them, helping them gain some skills. I’m glad our government is supporting youth in a way that is meaningful and relevant to them. Employers, please assist us in making this initiative successful.

Jackie Lovely, MLACamrose Constituency #104, 4870 51 Street, Camrose, AB T4V 1S1 Tel: 780-672-0000 Email: camrose@assembly.ab.ca

“We figured the best chance for getting a replacement school in Tofield that would cover both bases would be to build one structure. There's enough room between the two to build without having to shut a school down and move kids around,” he said.

Some of the questions and concerns brought up by those in attendance included the gymnasium, and whether the new school would have two. Secretary-Treasurer Imogene Walsh said just one, and Madsen asked if it would have to be one gym, or just a certain number of square metres dedicated to gym space.

“It's a certain number of square metres, but because we're talking about a high school, it really would only be big enough for one gym because of the size needed for a high school gym,” Walsh said.

Madsen asked Tofield School principal Gordon Thompson how often they have two classes using their

gym at the same time, and Thompson said every period.

“So, if you were to take one gym and split it in two, you're (Tofield School) already using it for every period, and if you then add an elementary school on, there would be zero gym time for any elementary classes, correct?” Madsen asked.

“The way it's currently structured, yes,” Thompson said. “We have a curtain that comes down and we run about 70 kids per period.”

Someone asked what it would look like for the community to fundraise for an additional gym, and Walsh said that at their value scoping exercise a year ago, it was $5,500 per square metre, but it has probably gone up since then.

“When a school in Grande Prairie got approved for a new build,” Albrecht said, “their community got behind them and said, no, we want a bigger gymnasium. I can't remember how many square metres they upsized but I think they were proposed to have a full basketball court and a half, and they were able to upgrade to two full basketball courts in the same

gymnasium, which I think cost them $2.5 million about 10 years ago,” Albrecht said.

Someone else also asked if it would be possible to keep the current Tofield School gym when the rest of the building is demolished, but the answer was it would come down to funding again.

One person in attendance asked about the budget for the build of the new school and demolition of the current two, but Albrecht said they have not yet been approved for the build, and there are levels of approval before they would get to that point.

“The way this works is we submit a plan to the government, and they say, this makes sense, or it doesn’t. Once we get on that list, then we get plans approved, for drawings and pricing proposals; it’s a three to four step process,” he said.

Walsh added that the Board doesn’t set the budget.

Another attendee asked how much input school staff would be

able to provide in regards to the design of the school.

“The guidelines that are provided by Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta Education are very clear on a specific amount of classroom space, storage, administration space, learning commons, your library, those are all set by the government,” Walsh said.

“Based on our last three builds that we've done in the Division, there's some great features that we get in those buildings, but there is also some give. One of the biggest gives would be storage, staff always want more storage, and in reality, what we end up with is

less, and there is no way to get around that. They have a very structured formula. We can steal a little bit of room here and there, but I think it's 10 per cent of the overall, each of the different categories, that you can move around to do something else with,” she said.

Walsh also said once the project is approved, they will likely meet with school staff and school councils before the Board meets with the architects, but reiterated again that ultimately the design is the government’s decision.

One person asked about the approval process, and how long it might take.

“That is completely a government process,” Walsh said. “Every spring the Board approves a capital plan and submits it to the government. They evaluate our request against all 300 other requests that they get across the province, and they determine, based on their own criteria, which projects will move forward,” she said.

Someone else asked, if and when the project is approved, how long it would be before the new school would be complete. Walsh said likely about three years from when they get approval until there are students in the new building

Protecting yourself against cybercrime

Vanessa Poitras Staff Reporter

Alberta RCMP has provided a media release with tips to avoid cybercrime, as many Albertans fall victim to online fraud every day.

"Cybercrime refers to criminal activity in which the Internet and informa-

tion technologies, such as computers, tablets, and mobile devices, have a substantial role in the commission of a criminal offence," the release stated.

Alberta RCMP also shared many useful tips to protect oneself against cybercrime, including using strong passwords, and unique passwords are rec-

ommended for each account you may have. As well, enabling multifactor authentication adds security to all devices.

"To avoid security vulnerabilities, make sure all operating systems are up to date,"the release says. You can secure your computer by using anti-virus software.

"Secure your home’s wireless network. Do not use public Wi-Fi for financial or corporate transactions," Alberta RCMP says. It is recommended to be social media savvy, which means having a private profile and being conscientious of what you post online.

"Be cautious about giv-

ing personal information on the Internet. Make sure that websites are secure and that you’ve enabled privacy settings," the release stated.

Alberta RCMP also encourages scam safety: "Always think before clicking a link or file from an unknown origin. Don’t feel pressured by emails or

messages. Verify the source of each message and never reply to emails requesting user IDs and passwords."

Reports of fraud can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). Compromised personal and/or financial information should be reported to the bank.

Locals participate in nation-wide 5K

Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

Sonya Martens of Hastings Lake, her husband Rick, and their friend Nancy Digdon participated in the nation-wide 24th annual Mary Kay 5K

with cancer and shelters for those fleeing domestic violence.

“The MK5K is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (MKACF) and the causes it supports are

ter Foundation, helping women with cancer feel confident and beautiful again. The Foundation also provides Shelter Grants to support women and children fleeing domestic violence. This year, there will be 12

on Saturday, Sept. 20, walking a lap near the lake in support of women

close to my heart: Every year, MKACF supports the Look Good Feel Bet-

grants of $10,000 — one in each province,” Martens, Mary Kay sales

director, said.

In 2024, A Safe Place Women’s Shelter in Sherwood Park was the Alberta recipient. Last year was the first time Martens had organized and participated in the MK5K. This year her goal is $1,000 and at print deadline, was over halfway there.

Martens is also donating 25 per cent of her September sales back to the MKACF.

“Your support means the world.  Every step we take in the MK5K helps provide hope, healing, and a brighter future for women everywhere,” Martens said.

Serving all the farms, ranches, acreages and towns in Beaver County Bruce, Holden, Kinsella Ryley, Tofield, Viking

Phone

The Beaver County Chronicle

An election will be held in four divisions out of five for seats on Beaver County Council following the close of nominations Sept. 22 in the 2025 municipal elections.

All incumbents are running again and four of them are being challenged for their seats.

All except for Councillor Lionel Williams, who has been elected by acclamation in Division 2 as nobody has stepped forward to take him on.

In Division 1, current Reeve Kevin Smook is being challenged by Nora Abercrombie. Smook filed his nomination papers on Sept. 10 while Abercrombie filed hers on Sept. 19.

In Division 2, incumbent Lionel Williams went unchallenged and is therefore elected by acclamation. Just completing his first term in office, Williams filed his notice of nomination for a second term on August 25.

In Division 3, incumbent Eugene (Gene) Hrabec is being challenged by Richard (Rick) Ells, who filed on nomi-

nation day Sept. 22. Hrabec filed his nomination papers on Aug. 13.

In the next two divisions, there are three candidates each vying for two seats.

In Division 4, incumbent Barry Bruce has two challengers, Ava Fried and Shawn O’Shea. Papers for nomination were filed on Aug. 18 for Bruce, Sept. 11 for Fried, and Sept. 15 for O’Shea.

In Division 5, incumbent Dale Pederson (filed his nomination papers on Sept. 15) is being challenged by Marshall Tymofichuk (filed on Sept. 11) and Diane Weaver (filed on Sept. 22).

Candidates have 24 hours following the nomination deadline of noon on Sept. 22 to withdraw their name from nomination.

Advance voting will be held for Divisions 1 and 2 on Oct. 14 at the Tofield Golden Club.

In Divisions 3 and 4, advance voting is set for Oct. 15 at the Holden Seniors Club.

And in Division 5, advance voting will take place on Oct. 16 at the Viking Seniors Club.

Voting times for these advance polls

within the respective divisions are all between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

As well, electors from all five divisions can advance vote on Oct. 14-17 at the Beaver County Service Centre in Ryley from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The municipal election will take place on Oct. 20 with voting stations open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

On voting day, voting stations in Division 1 will be held at the Lindbrook Community Hall and Tofield Community Hall.

In Division 2, at Spilstead Community Hall as well as Tofield Community Hall. However, with the incumbent already elected by acclamation in Division 2, only voters for Division 1 will be voting at the Tofield Hall.

In Division 3, a voting station is scheduled for use at the Ryley Legion.

In Division 4, the Bruce Community Hall will be the voting station.

In Division 5, there will be voting stations set up at the Kinsella Community Hall and the Viking Seniors Centre.

The campaign now begins in earnest for all the candidates with nominations

Four of five county seats contested in municipal election - Lionel Williams elected by acclamation in Division 2

closed and candidates officially declared.

Already, an All-Candidates Forum 2025 has been announced by the Tofield and District Chamber of Commerce for Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Tofield Community Hall starting at 6 p.m.

The Tofield and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a moderated candidates’ forum for members of the public to meet local candidates “so you can make informed decisions in the upcoming municipal election,” says the Chamber.

The Chamber invites the public to come out and “hear from your local candidates on issues that matter most to your community.”

For Beaver County elections, Kevin Smook (inc.) and Nora Abercrombie are vying for a Division 1 council seat, and Gene Hrabec (inc.) and Rick Ells are contesting the Division 3 county council seat.

Municipal elections are also taking place in the towns and villages, and school districts that lie within the county boundaries.

County responds to odour concerns with ‘fact sheet’ for residentsProvince “wholly responsible” for landfill’s odour and other issues

Patricia Harcourt

Beaver County Council addressed letters of concern regarding landfill odours from Claystone Waste Ltd. at council’s Sept. 17 meeting.

Council directed administration to prepare a fact sheet outlining the dual approval processes fro Claystone Waste Ltd. development, specifically the municipal and provincial development application processes as well as contact information for concerned citizens to direct complaints about Claystone’s odours and other emissions to the province.

Deborah Juch, General Manager of Community and Protective Services,

presented the fact sheet devised by administration explaining the county’s role and responsibilities and suggestions on what people can do to register complaints. The fact sheet is now posted on the county website.

In her report, she stated that the responsibility for monitoring odours falls within the Provincial jurisdiction and “supersedes” the county’s bylaws.

In terms of making a complaint about odours, Juch said that “Claystone would do an investigation and report back to the company,” stating this complaint process has been under utilized in the past.

The fact sheet was “desk dropped” to the councillors and therefore not includ-

ed in the public agenda package, although posted on the screen in county chambers during discussion.

The fact sheet also spells out “what the county can and cannot control,” said Juch.

Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Councillor Division 3) called the fact sheet “great.”

But he added: “Claystone needs to fix its complaint process.” He said that, often, there is no answer when using the complaints line and no follow up after leaving a message.

Hrabec said he has asked the company about this and was told there are so many calls regarding items like bins that “they just take messages,” he said,

adding “this needs to be fixed.”

Reeve Kevin Smook (Division 1) reminded council this issue was discussed in a closed session on Sept. 3. Issues discussed in closed session are not for public consumption.

The fact sheet would go out to the public once it has been approved, he said. It has been posted on the county website following the meeting.

Hrabec added that when the county approved the new compost facility for Claystone four years ago, “council had no idea of the growth,” of the facility since then, adding: “The compost facility has growing pains…

“The size was unexpected,” he said, Continued on BCC4

MUNICIPALELECTION: Monday,October20,2025

BEAVER COUNTY MUNICIPAL ELECTION: Monday, October 20, 2025

SpecialBallots

IfyouarenotabletovoteatanAdvanceVoteoronElectionDay youmayrequestaSpecialBallot(akamail-inballot).Requestsfor SpecialBallotswillbeacceptedinwriting,bytelephone,in person,orbye-mailcommencingat12:00pm(noon)on Thursday,September24,2025.

SpecialBallotsmustbereturnedtotheReturningOfficerno laterthen12:00pm(noon)onMonday,October20,2025,eitherin personduringbusinesshoursorbymail.Anyballotsthatare receivedlatewillNOTbeaccepted. Email:mwalsh@beaver.ab.caPhone:780-663-3730ext.1023

ALLCANDIDATES FORUM2025

HEARFROMYOURLOCALCANDIDATES

TheTofieldandDistrictChamberofCommerce ishostinga ModeratedCandidatesForum forYOUtomeetthelocalCandidatessoyou canmakeinformeddecisionsintheupcoming MunicipalElection!

Tuesday,October7,2025

6:00pm

TofieldCommunityHall 530950thSt,Tofield

CANDIDATES:

Pleaseemailgreg@greg-litwin.com byOctober2,2025 toconfirmyourattendance.

October8

9:30AM-12:00-GovernanceandPrioritiesCommitteeMeeting 1:00PM-4:00PM-RegularCouncilMeeting October20

8:00AM-8:00PM-MunicipalElection IMPORTANTDATES

Friday,October31,2025

Doorsopenat8:00PM AdvanceTicketsOnly: $30(+EventbriteFee)* 18+Event Formoreinformationcontactusat: borschiwsocialguild@gmail.com or587-280-2357 *TicketsavailablethroughEventbrite ONLY

DEVELOPMENTPERMITS

ThefollowingDevelopmentApplicationshavebeenAPPROVED(except whereotherwisenoted)bytheDevelopmentAuthorityundertheprovisions ofLandUseBylawNo.98-801,subjecttotherightofappealtotherelevant appealbody-SubdivisionandDevelopmentAppealBoard(SDAB)orLand andPropertyRightsTribunal(LPRT).

APPEALDEADLINE

AppealBody ApplicationNo. Applicant Landowner Location Development

APPEALDEADLINE AppealBody ApplicationNo. Applicant Landowner Location Development

OCTOBER22,2025 LPRT 020020-25-D0062 MANSOORROY 1325207ALBERTALTD. E1/2Block2,Plan1562WinNW-27-46-11-W4 DiscretionaryUse-GasStation&ConvenienceStore (HighwayCommercialUse)

OCTOBER22,2025 SDAB 020020-25-D0051 SIMONKEUSCH(PRAIRIEPRIDEMEATSLTD.) SAME Lot2,Block1,Plan0525952inSE-24-50-20-W4 DiscretionaryUse-PetFoodManufacturingBusiness (Agricultural,ProductProcessing)

Anypersonwishingtoappealanapplicationmaydosoby servingwrittennoticeontheprescribedform(stating reasonsfortheappeal)totherelevantappealbody.For informationonhowtoappealcanbefoundourourwebsite under Services>Planning&Development>Appealing PlanningDecisions Furtherinformationregardingtheabovedecisionsmaybe obtainedfromtheCountyOffice,Ryley,Alberta.

CONSTRUCTIONUPDATEFORTHEFOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

Overthesummer,Countyconstructioncrewshavebeenworkingto upgradethefollowingroads:

TWPRD492Approximately1.72kmseastofRGERD170

TWPRD490betweenHighway857&RGERD142

TWPRD490betweenHighway870&RGERD120

TWPRD512fromRGERD191toSecondaryHighway834

Theselocationswillsoonbegintoreceivethesecondlayerofchipsealand theremaybedelaysasworkcrews'directtraffictoworksafely.Therewill bemanylooserocksafterthesecondchipseallayerisappliedandspeed limitswillcontinuetobereducedontheseroadsuntilthefinalsweepis complete.BeaverCounty'sgoalistoprovideahealthy,injuryfreework environmentforallemployees,contractors,visitors,andgeneralpublic. Therearepotentialhazardstothepublicandvehiclesduringthe constructionprocess.Thiscanincludeheavymachinery,dustormud,road materialsuchasgravel,asphaltcoatingsandrockchips.Weapologizefor theinconveniencethatroadmaintenanceandupgradingcauses,butthe sameroadsthatreceivethemosttrafficalsoneedthemostmaintenance. Thankyouforyourpatienceandunderstandingduringconstruction.If youhaveanyquestions,pleasecalltheBeaverCountyServiceCentreat 780-663-3730.

ROADMAINTENANCE:SHOULDERPULLS

BeaverCountyconstructioncrewsarecompletingshoulderpullsonthe followingroadsthisseason.

RgeRd200fromHWY14toTwpRd500

TwpRd492fromHWY834toRgeRd192

RgeRd173,430meterssouthofTwpRd500toTwpRd492 TwpRd500fromHWY854toRgeRd171 TwpRd484fromHWY855toRgeRd164 TwpRd502fromHWY854toRgeRd171

Thisworkreclaimsgravelfromtheroadedges,restoresthecrownfor properdrainage,andimprovesoveralldrivingconditions.Duringthis process,residentsmaynoticetemporaryroughsurfacesandroad equipment.Weaskdriverstoslowdown,watchforsigns,andgivecrews spacetoworksafely.Formoreinformation,visittheRoadMaintenance FAQontheBeaverCountywebsite.Ifyourquestionisn’tansweredthere, pleasecontacttheBeaverCountyServiceCentreat780-663-3730.

ROADSURFACINGUPDATE:

BeaverCountyispleasedtoannouncethatthehardsurfacingprojectsat thefollowinglocation(s)havebeencompleted: RgeRd202betweenTwp502and504

Thisupgradewillprovidesmoothertravelandextendthelong-term durabilityoftheroadwayforallusers.

Toensuretheroadremainsinexcellentcondition,weaskthepublicto pleasefollowtheguidelinesbelow:

Roadbanswillremaininplaceforapproximatelyoneyear. Noloadingorunloadingontheroadway.

Avoiddrivingheavyandtrackedequipmentontheroad,pleaseuse alternateroutesorhaulroads.

ReportanydamageorunsafeconditionstotheBeaverCountyService Center.

COMMUNITYSUPPORTGRANTDEADLINE

BeaverCountyvaluestheincredibleworkofcommunityorganizations! ThroughtheCommunitySupportGrantprogram,weprovidefunding andin-kindsupporttohelpbringimpactfulprojectstolife.

Thinkingaboutapplying?Here’swhatyou’llneed:

Acompletedapplicationform, Adetailedprojectbudget, Theorganization’smostrecentfinancialstatements, Evidenceoffinancialneedorquotesfortheproject.

Deadline:September30th,2025

VisitourwebsiteunderCommunity>CommunitySupport Requestsformoreinformationortofilloutanapplicationform.

Mailinglist

Getnews,meetinghighlights,theroad constructionschedule,theChronicle,and more-directtoyourinbox!

RgeRd200fromHwy630to BlackfootGrazingReserve Entrance

Twp492approx.1.72kmseastof RgeRd170 Jun26

TwpRd512fromRgeRd191toHWY 834

ShoulderPulls

RgeRd200fromHWY14toTWP RD500 Sept9 Sept30

TwpRd492fromHWY834toRge Rd192 Oct1 Oct9

RgeRd173from430meterssouth ofTwpRd500andTwpRd492 Oct10 Oct24

TwpRd500fromHWY854toRge Rd171 Oct27 Nov4

TwpRd502fromHWY854toRge Rd171 Nov5 Nov14

BridgeReplacement(RGERD171 fromTWP484-490 Jun26 Jul26 Gravelling Mar13 Dec22

HamletRoadRehabilitation(DatesTBD)

Bruce -MainStreetfromrailroad tracksto4Avenue th

Kinsella - MainStreetfrom Highway14to3Avenue rd 2AvenuefromMainStreetto KingStreet nd

Website InformationonCountyprogramsandservicescan befoundonourwebsite,alongwiththelatestnews.

Socialmedia FindusonFacebook,X(Twitter), Instagram,YouTube,andLinkedIn.

“ThereisatimeinlateSeptemberwhentheleavesarestill green,andthedaysarestillwarm,butsomehowyouknow thatitisallabouttoendasifsummerwasholdingits breath,andwhenitletitoutagain,itwouldbeautumn.” SharynMcCrumb

Beaver County supports Kinsella Community Centre roof replacement

Funds used from Clean Harbors Enhancement Grant

Patricia Harcourt

Beaver County Council recently supported “a much-needed roof replacement” for the Kinsella Community Centre by approving funding of up to $265,000 for the project, announced a county release dated Sept. 23.

Funding for the roof replacement came from the Clean Harbors Community Enhancement Grant, which is calculated quarterly based on the volume of waste received at the

Landfill Odour concerns

Continued from BCC 1

adding” “It can’t be fixed overnight but it has to be addressed…The municipality needs to step up and help Claystone with solutions.”

He then spoke concerning the unfairness for the county residents living closest to the facility who may deserve more compensation than other ratepayers.

“Ratepayers (living closest) are dealing with the smell and the garbage,” he said, noting that “Those (living) near are affected more but only get the same services as other living further away.”

Hrabec said he was speaking for the county residents who wrote the letters and for those who called him to complain.

“Beaver County needs to step up

Ryley facility. The grant provides Beaver County with dedicated funds to support projects that enhance recreation, leisure, and community programs across the County.

“Having this new roof provides us more opportunity to offer a good, clean, and affordable space for people in the area to rent for functions.

Heartfelt gratitude from Kinsella Rec and Ag and from the community, for Clean Harbors’ and Beaver County Council’s assistance on this project,” said Peter Albert, President of the

and protect the ratepayers because it’s our problem as much as anyone else’s,” he said.

Hrabec made the motion requested by administration and the motion was carried unanimously by council.

The letters referred to in county discussion came from ratepayers William and Christa Winsnes, who have a farm near the landfill, and Willis Reist, who lives in Ryley and farms on land in the county.

The letters were addressed to their division councillor. Christa Winsnes stated in her letter: “These odours have led to a tangible loss of enjoyment and use of my outdoor spaces.

“What should be peaceful rural living has turned into periods where opening windows or spending time outside is unbearable, forcing me and my family indoors and disrupting daily activities,” she said.

Earlier in the letter, she referred to “foul odours” described as “rotten or

Kinsella Agricultural and Recreation Society.

The total cost of the roof project was estimated at $251,000 plus GST. With the Kinsella Recreation and Agricultural Society’s eligibility for a 50% GST rebate, the county’s total contribution is expected to be $257,275, pending final invoicing.

“The Kinsella Community Centre is more than just a building - it’s where the community comes together,” says Beaver County Reeve Kevin Smook, “Investing in its upkeep helps pre-

sewage like which have plagued the community for years.”

Winses also outlined her concerns for the animals in her care, especially the horses she described as highly sensitive to respiratory problems from such gases emitted from the landfill.

Reist expressed strong concern for his family: “I and my family of four would like to express our anger towards the proposed expansion of the composter at the Ryley Landfill (Claystone),” his letter stated.

When the wind blows “in the wrong direction,” he said the “putrid” smell drives people indoors or makes them leave town.

“They say they have, or can, control the smell but we have yet to see that,” he said, referring to the upcoming municipal elections as a way for people to vote their anger over the issue..

“Please do what you can as elected

serve that connection for years to come. We’re proud to support this project and grateful to Clean Harbors for making it possible.”

Construction was completed in September 2025. “This investment reflects Beaver County’s Strategic Plan commitment to building strong rural communities by supporting infrastructure that connects residents and strengthens community life,” stated the county in its announcement.

officials to make sure this does not go through or the health of our community,” said Reist.

However, in her report Juch explained that the the county is not the entity responsible for ensuring odours.

“The Alberta Environmental Protection Agency (AEPA) has jurisdiction over the monitoring and enforcement of odour and other emissions from landfills,” states Juch.

“While the county’s Community Standards Bylaw does regulate odour as one of many nuisances that the county can enforce against to reduce impact on neighbours, in the case of a landfill, Provincial jurisdiction supersedes any authority that the county has,” she said.

“The Province is wholly responsible to ensure Claystone complies with its approved odour management plan,” concluded Juch.

Holden Land Use Bylaw

Continued from Page 5

keep dogs in or to hide unsightly properties

“This is where it's difficult Fence permits are tied to the land, not the people It was brought up

that if somebody has a large dog, they should be allowed a taller fence, but, at the end of the day, that dog could pass away and or the family could move but the development permit is tied to the property, so it has to be the same rules for everybody

“If you did keep the fencing section the same, and somebody came in

Elizabeth (Betty)

Gudmundson

May 12, 1939 - Sept. 17, 2025

I t is w ith lo v e and sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth “Betty” G udmundson on September 17 , 2025 at the age of 86 in Edmonton, Alberta

B elo v ed w ife of the late H o w ard “Clive” Gudmundson and cherished mother of Wendy (Bert), Sherry Lynn (Ken) and Shannon. Grandmother to Shawn, Alarissa (Stu), Thaivan, Aidan and Dax. She is also survived by her sisters-in-la w; Yv onne B ro w n, L illian Gudmundson and brother-in-law Lorne G udmundson as w ell as numerous nieces and nephews

She is predeceased by her parents Stanley and Keitha Brown, her siblings, I rene Scott ( Sandy ) , K enneth O li v er (Ann), Margarite Olson (Earl) and Peter Brown

A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Tofield United Church (4832 53 Ave.)

Memorial donations to the Tofield United Church

Weber Funeral Home 780-662-3959 www.weberfuneralhome.ca

and wanted a taller fence or a shorter fence, or whatever it might be, they can apply for a variance for that

“It s not saying no, it s just keeping the policy the same, and actually, most of the public would appreciate seeing the fencing section stay the same

“What I would recommend is having some

graphics showing the information more clearly, and then also stating in there that variances would be on a case-bycase basis,” Lapp said The public’s opinion on the LUB as a whole was that it needs to be modernized

“The comment we got was that it looks like it was a template taken from a different munici-

Miner

Katherine (Kathy)

1936-2025

K atherine Miner, k no w n to many as K athy, w as born on February 9, 1936, to the late Joseph and Annie Krystal She was married to the late Denzil Miner, with whom she raised two children, Elaine and Ken

Katherine and Denzil made their home on a farm outside Mayerthorpe, Alberta, where they worked together to operate the farm Denzil also worked in logging until his passing following a workplace accident

In time, Katherine sold the farm and moved into Mayerthorpe, where she worked at the Lodge and valued the opportunity to spend time with others. In 2007, she relocated to New Liskeard, Ontario, before settling in Dawson Creek, BC. After the passing of her daughter E laine in 20 1 9, she mo v ed to Tofield, where she joined the Lodge community and formed many lasting connections

Katherine is lovingly remembered by her son Ken; grandchildren Chantal Presseault, K rystal G er v ais (E ric ) , R iley O llenberger (Joleen), and Bailey Ryder (Aaron); and greatgrandchildren Devin, Danielle, Taylor, Sarah, L eah G er v ais, K ohen, L eah O llenberger, Khloe, and Lainey She was predeceased by her daughter E laine (R obert Presseault ) , granddaughter Melanie Presseault, and several siblings: John, Andrew, Anton, Walter, and Peter She is survived by her brother Albert

Katherine will be remembered for her sociable nature, her appreciation for the outdoors, and her enjoyment of games such as cards and bingo Though diabetes affected her mobility in later years, she continued to meet life with resilience

Her steady spirit will leave an enduring mark on all who knew her She will be fondly missed

Mrs Miner’ s care has been entrusted to Buffam Leveille Funeral Home, Haileybury, Ontario

Buffam Leveille Funeral Home 705-672-3122 https://buffamleveille.com/en_ca/

pality and applied to Holden There are three zonings that Holden currently has but are not using

“They asked that we look at deleting those and implementing them if and when they' re needed,” Lapp said Mayor Beckett asked, in terms of the number of pages, what kind of reduction Lapp is looking

to have

“It is 149 pages right now and I don t know what I could get it down to, but I would like to see it at about 60 to 70 pages,” she said

Lapp said the drafted bylaw will be available to the public and that there will be another public engagement event to discuss the proposed changes

O'Coin, Paul Alfred

Oct. 10, 1957 - Sept. 14, 2025

It is with great sadness and our hearts full of love that we lay to rest our Dad, Paul, on September 14th, 2025 at the age of 67.

The most lo v ing, supportive and fun Father, Husband, Uncle, Grandfather, Brother and Son He had a passion for the work he did in trucking and long haul trucking. He was a proud member and volunteer at E mmanuel C ommunity C hurch . H e w as fully obsessed w ith R ush and passed the obsession on to all of his children. He will be remembered by his "pull my finger" jokes and his child-like energy

Paul is lovingly remembered by his wife of 12 years Mary O'Coin (Pasher), his 3 children J ennifer D e J ong ( Michael ) , K e v in O'C oin (C andace ) , and Vanessa Poitras; step son Barren Pasher; his 7 grand babies Clara, Seth, R yder, C hloe, Scarlett, A tlas and Kaileb; his sisters Susan Fry (Al) and C athy O’C oin and brother Peter (Sylvia); many nieces and nephews; and his two yappy pups, Butch and Barney

He was predeceased by his parents Alfred and Beth O'Coin and his brothers Barry O’Coin and John O’Coin. We want to thank every nurse and doctor that helped our Dad at the Cross Cancer institute, Grey Nuns Hospital and Rivercrest Care Centre. From the bottom of our hearts w e are truly than k ful for the k ind souls w ho laughed and cried with us and took the best care of our Dad.

In lieu of flowers as a gesture of sympathy donations can be made to Rivercrest Care Centre Hospice in Fort Saskatchewan

$20/wk

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to Jim & Val Fielding on your 50th Wedding Anniversary September 27! Love from the family.

With deep sorrow we announce the death of Helene Page, who passed away peacefully in Airdrie on August 12, 2025 at the age of 85.

Her ashes will be scattered at Forestburg Cemetery at noon on October 4, 2025 in a small ceremony attended by family. All are welcome to attend.

Brian's Market will not be beside the Drug Store in Daysland unless there are orders for raspberries or tomatoes, when they are ready, or strawberries if they get ready. It will only be for pickup orders, so you must call Brian for an appointment to get a time and day for pickup, at 780-678-0053. Brian's Market Garden would like to thank Mark and M.J. Badry for letting me use the empty lot by the Drug Store. I also would like to thank Flagstaff County for letting me take part in the Market, and I also want to thank all the customers who came out to support me in 2025.

CARD OF THANKS

Thanks to all who attended Ronald Fossen’s Celebration of Life and for all donations to your chosen charity in Dad’s memory. Special thanks to Dr. Hanton and staff of the Killam Hospital, and the Doctors and staff at the Daysland Hospital, as well as to the Forestburg Fire Department and EMS. Thanks, too, to Fee & Sons Funeral Home.

From Clint, Dan, Wayne, and Rick and their families COMING

EVENTS

Order Fall Potatoes and Carrots!!! East of Sedgewick, off Highway 13, turn north on RR122, then go north 3 miles. Helen Tanton - 780-888-6800 28tfnc

CLASSIFIEDS

COMING EVENTS

Are you ready for a change in your life?

Register for Change it Up at Flagstaff Community Adult Learning in Killam - a free 8 week program that will help you achieve your personal and employment goals. Whether you are ready to reenter the workforce, find more fulfilling work or need skills for dealing with personal difficulties or life situations, this is a course for everyone in all ages and stages of adulthood.

Text or call Treena at 780-385-1936 or email her at flagstaffconnector@gmail.com to register or find out more. Starting this October. 38/39c

Once again we are fundraising for the MK5K walk, to raise money for the Mary Ash Charitable Foundation. Your donation will support women living with cancer and fights against domestic violence. If you would like to donate and get the link for a tax receipt, contact Sonya Martens 780-240-4605. Donate by September 30, 2025.

TM38P

Variety Vendor Markets in Hardisty and Killam. Discover local businesses, crafters, and hot/cold food.

Hardisty Elk’s Hall, Saturday, September 27, Noon to 8 p.m.

Killam United Church Tuesday, October 7, 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Apply with Tiffany 780-280-0690

37/38c

Join us for a Free Movie Night. Build your awareness and understanding for Truth and Reconciliation.

Flagstaff Community Adult Learning and DKR United Churches are inviting you to a viewing of the award winning documentary "The Pass System" on Thursday, Sept 24th at 7 pm at the Killam Theatre (The Living Room) on Main Street. Refreshments to follow. Ages 12+.

37/38c

FOR RENT

Storage Unit For Rent in Killam

Inside private warehouse building behind Community Press office. Security cameras on site, building heated in winter. Upstairs units available, approx 8’ x 12’. Back alley access only. $99/mo. with $100 damage deposit. Or pre-pay for 6 months for $495 (1 month free) or pre-pay for 1 year for $990 (2 months free).

Rental contract required. First month due at signing. Call/Leave Voicemail for Ally 780-385-6693 or stop by The Community Press office on Main Street in Killam.

FOR SALE

Pyrenees Puppies, 7 months old. Female and male. Asking $100. Call Garth at 780-688-3514.

36/38c

Great Pyrenees about 1.5 years old. 2 females and 1 male, in the Holden area. Asking $200 per dog. Call 780-688-3514

TM37P

Multiple Items For Sale GREAT PRICES!!!!!!

Located in Viking, AB Chop Saw & Stand $300 Electric Mower $250 Scroll Saw $120 Air Tools $200 Golf Clubs $500 Plus many more toolssome never even used! Call Victor at 587-306-3806 37/38p

Equipment For Sale

• Zero Turn Cub Cadet Lawnmower 54" with approximately 250 hours 2 years old

• Kubota Side by Side with Dump Box

• Massey Ferguson model 255 with approximately 3,000 hours with ease-on front end loader.

• Restored W30 International. New paint, runs good. Call Norman at 780-385-8814. 33/37p

FOR SALE

WHITE SPRUCE TREES: 5’ average $50. Installation ONLY $19. Includes: hole augered, Wurzel Dip enzymes injection, bark mulch application, staking. Minimum order 25. One-time fuel charge: $150 - 225. Crystal Springs.  403-820-0961. Quality guaranteed.

JP’s Country Daycare located in Daysland, Alberta is looking for full-time and part-time Early Childhood Educators - ECEs. Willing to train, Government Top Up, Wage to be discussed based on experience. Resumes can be sent to jpcountrydaycare@gmail.com 36/39c

LOOKING TO RENT

LOOKING TO RENT

$$ Make Extra Money $$

Professional lady, children's entertainer living/working in Flagstaff region for next year or two, looking for room/ apartment/house to rent anywhere in Flagstaff County, by Oct. 1. Non-smoking preferred. References available. Call Victoria at 780-781-3713 38p

REAL ESTATE

Section Pastureland NE 35 & NW 36-41-10-W4 located south of Hardisty in the Battle River valley at RR 101 & TWP RD 420. Fenced, cross-fenced, mix of seeded and tame grass with large dug-out, pumping system, full power on site with gravel revenue. Call Mike Golka REMAX River City 780-914-9889 MLS#’s E4447511 & E4447499 tfnc

Looking for New Farm & Commercial Listings! Give us a call, we’d love to sell your property! Hill Realty Inc. 780-449-5622 nhill01@telus.net www.hillrealty.ca

PRICING

$20/wk for the first 35 words 45¢ for each additional word 4 Papers

16,000 readers

SERVICES

Town & Country

Guardian Drugs - Killam

We have: •a colour photocopier. •cold pop and fresh snacks. •a great selection of giftware, houseware, fragrances, clothing, toys, games, plush animals and more. •a big selection of greeting cards. •stationery. •seasonal gifts •vitamins, minerals, supplements •free gift wrapping •prescription service 6 days a week.

General Contractor

Red Seal Journeyman Plumber and Gasfitter. Bathroom Renos & Tile New to the Area. 30 plus Years of Experience. Dave 403-999-8464

Drywall Taping/Ceiling Texturing

Experienced Killam drywall taper/texturer here to help you with any job, big or small. Don't want to do it yourself? Give me a call! Flagstaff Taping & Texturing Call or text at 780-385-1251

CLASSIFIEDS

NOTICES. EVENTS. ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANKS. MEMORIALS. SALES. RENTALS. REAL ESTATE. GIVE AWAYS. & MORE!

Quality Residential and Commercial Interior Painting. Betty Tkaczyk 780-632-8749

PRIVATE MORTGAGE LENDER. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. 403-543-0927; www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca.

————————————————

Leave the tanks at home. Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators Convert the air around you into medical grade oxygen. At just under 3 lbs, Inogen lightweight and compact portable oxygen concentrators easily deliver your prescription oxygen on-the-go Call Us Now 1-833-997-1719

Say “NO” to cleaning out your Eavestroughs. Protect your home with LeafFilter. Full service Eavestrough protectionschedule your FREE INSPECTION now 1-888-483-0274. Use Promo Code: 285 to get 20% Off your entire purchase plus 10% Off for Seniors + Military We offer financing that fits your budget!

Be prepared for winter with GENERAC Call 587-803-3600 SERVICES

ALL YOUR PRINTING NEEDS with Caribou Publishing (owner of your local paper) From Business Cards to Books and everything in between! production.cp@gmail.com

Crossword

FIREARMS WANTED FOR OUR 2025 AUCTION PROGRAM: Firearms, Ammunition, Accessories, or Militaria. Collections, Estates or single items. For Auction, or Possible Purchase: Contact us: 1-800-694-2609, Email: sales@switzersauction.com or Visit us @ www.switzersauction.com for Auction Dates & Details. ———————————————

SEPT/ OCT SENIORS SPECIAL! 10% MORE ON ALL CASH PAYOUTS. SILVER Coins, Canadian Coins, GOLD coins, chains, rings...We buy them ALL! Silver flatware, tea sets, all things silver, Canadian Mint sets. We come to the privacy of your home, no fees! Call Joy or Ted 1-825-966-4373.

$1,700 for Terry Fox

Holden participants in the 45th annual Terry Fox Run raised $1,700 on Sunday, Sept. 14. Standing, L-R: Brenda McCloy, Wendy Staden, Connie Komarnisky, Susan Tymchak. Kneeling: Michele Mulder. "According to our local organizer and longtime participant Susan Tymchak, Holden has been involved for 44 years, raising over $50,000. Thanks to the walkers and those who contributed the funds," Christine Mackay said.

Golfer Sophie Neufeld

Colton Kuflay Student reporter

Sophie Neufeld, a Tofield School Grade 10 student, qualified for the Provincials in golf with a gold standing on Sept 15.

At Paradise Canyon, McGrath Lethbridge, Sophie shot a 92, four strokes ahead of the second place competitor.

Sophie will be going on to play 18 holes on Sept. 22 and 23 at the Provincial level in Lethbridge.

Sophie talked about her favourite part of

golf: “It is definitely just being out there. The sport is so fun yet so frustrating at the same time, and that is what I love about it. It's always the one shot from a horrible game that keeps you coming back every time."

Golf is one of her favourite sports and has been playing since she was five or six years old.

She was taught by her dad, along with being on the Tofield School golf team for roughly four years.

"I took it seriously this summer,” she said.

FEATURED PROPERTIES LAMONT COUNTY

• W4-19-54-11-SW Plan 1026758 Block 1 Lot 2 Lamont County. 75.12 acres in the Lamont County 55

±

W4-19-57-15-NW East Half Lamont County 78.01 acres with 45 acres ± in hay. Nice building site. Price: $280,000 TOWN

• 5119 48 Ave, 5121 48 Ave, and 5116 47 Ave Lamont AB 3 commercial lots 50' by 100', 65' by 100', and 30' by 100' Price: $200,000

VILLAGE OF ANDREW

• 5317-50 Ave Andrew. An 18,000 sq. ft. manufacturing shop with office and storage space on 2.3 acres of land Price: $1,700,000

Beaver County roadside grazing and other ag-related policies updated

Patricia Harcourt Staff Reporter

Updates to the Roadside Grazing Bylaw were made by Beaver County Council following a recommendation by the Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) earlier this month.

At their September 17 meeting, Beaver County Council agreed to re-

Holden

scind the then current roadside grazing policy in order to approving an updated one, Policy INFR-016, with the same name.

County administration has been conducting a Policy Review Project on county bylaws, and several changes were recommended regarding the policy that has been in place for several years.

The review put in a definition for “Livestock Feed Shortage,” an event that precipitated the implementation of roadside grazing in the county during a previous drought situation where grass and hay were in short supply.

Roadside grazing helps out farmers who need help providing feed for their animals.

sewer projects

The word “cattle” has been changed to “livestock” in the newly proposed bylaw.

The requirements concerning utilities in places where roadside grazing was taking place were updated. The term “Alberta One-Call” was deleted as an outdated one.

Also updated were those concerning insur-

ance, liability and requirements.

Recommendations from a July meeting of the GPC have also been incorporated, “to enable the Agriculture Service Board to provide recommendations if time permits dependent upon the circumstances,” states the Sept.17 report to council from Dan Blackie, general manager of infrastructure.

Dry conditions are happening within the county as well as in many parts of the province, although local farmers have been able to pull off bales of hay from pasture land and ditches.

Cattle Guard, Fence Replacement, and Backsloping policies were also updated.

John’s Rant

Continued from Page 6

industries and our mining industries.

You have to work with the Federal government to accomplish this and unlike the previous Trudeau government, the Liberals under Prime Minister Carney have signalled they are open to dialogue, something Trudeau was not.

So then Jason Kenny the former Alberta Premier wades into the conversa-

tion stating this issue of separation will split up communities, neighbours and possibly even families.

Last week he went public with comments on the topic of separation.

Kenney said separatists have been working in Alberta for half a century and have had little success except for Gordon Kesler of the Western Canada Concept party in a 1982 by-election.

“They’ve only managed to win one riding, once, in a by-election in (OldsDidsbury) in 1982 at the height of the National En-

ergy Program, which they shortly thereafter lost,” he said.

“Over 50 years they’ve failed to win. They couldn’t get elected dogcatcher in this province, because they don’t actually have real support.

Kenney is on record opposing separation and said his stance has brought attacks on social media calling him a traitor and urging he be executed.

Well, there are silly keyboard warriors everywhere who issue threats and harassing comments under the guise of social media anonymity.

Local men’s hockey team visits with seniors

Four Tofield Satellite players met with local seniors at the Sunshine Villa on Wednesday, Sept. 17. L-R: Ty Yoder, Roy Ellingson, Cody Taylor, Scott Lawson, Fernie Nadon, Landon Van Engelen.

A meet and greet with the newly revived local senior hockey team, the Tofield Satellites, was held on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the Sunshine Villa in Tofield.

Four Tofield Satellite players were present and included Ty Yoder (#16), Cody Taylor (#7), Scott Lawson (#77), and Landon Van Engelen (#47).

A few residents came down to the dining hall to ask the players questions and share stories. One resident, Fernie Nadon, shared that he had played for Oil Kings in the late 1950s.

Yoder grew up in Tofield and has been playing hockey his whole life. He has played in Tofield, Camrose, Edmonton and B.C. and is excited to be back playing for Tofield. Yoder’s dad and grandfa-

ther have been part of the Satellites history as well, making him a third generation Satellites player.

Van Engelen has been playing hockey since he learned how to skate, has played in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and is happy to be back home in Tofield. Van Englen grew up watching his father play for the Satellites.

Taylor also grew up in Tofield and has played junior hockey in Strathcona County. He had been living in B.C. but recently moved back to be with family in Tofield.

"I grew up watching the Satellites play with all my friends and now my nieces and nephews will be around watching me play," Taylor said.

Lawson grew up playing hockey with Tofield Minor Hockey and is excited that he gets to play for the Satellites.

So why does he keep bringing it up and keeping it alive?

That’s what I can’t understand.

With Lukaszuk’s petition, I can see him using this petition as a means of capturing names and addresses he might utilize in a future bid for the provincial NDP leadership after

Naheed Nenshi flames out.

He has never stated what his position would be if his petition asking, “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?” got a resounding “No” vote in its result.

I really think it's all about him trying to remain relative in the politi-

cal spectrum. For me and many like me I have a Canadian passport, a Canadian social security number and a complete Canadian identity.

I don’t need to sign a petition to prove it one way or another.

JOHN MATHER

The Satellites’ season kicks off with a home opener on Saturday, October 4 at the Tofield Arena.

OFFICE HOURS

MONDAY (NODENTIST) 10 AM - 2 PM

TUESDAY 9 AM

Nominated by peers, every year since 1996 an Alberta beef farmer or rancher is recognized with the Environmental Stewardship Award (ESA) for their dedication and innovation in how they protect, preserve, and enhance their operations and the environment.

“Presented annually, the ESA goes to a cattle producer or operation that best exemplifies en-

local beef producer for environmental award

vironmentally sustainable cattle production. Alberta cattle producers nominate their peers for this award, which has become one of the most prestigious in the industry,” the Alberta Beef Producers’ website says.

“A panel of representatives from conservation and agriculture assess the candidates, examining the stewardship goals and activities of the nominees including land management, water quality, wildlife, animal welfare,

and leadership activities in the community related to stewardship.”

This year’s Alberta nominees were John Smith and Laura Laing of Plateau Cattle Co. near Nanton, about an hour southwest of Calgary. They run 450 black angus and black angus cross cows on native grasslands with a focus on balancing feed requirements with environmental stewardship.

“Our goal has always been to produce the best

quality cattle we can, under low-stress, thoughtfulproduction practices, while protecting and improving the land for the next generation,” Smith said.

ESA nominations are accepted from mid-November to March 15 every year, and are made through Alberta Beef Producers.

“All beef cattle farms, feedlots, and ranches in Alberta are eligible for nomination. Operations can be self-nominated by

managers or employees or be nominated by an individual or organization,” the Alberta Beef Producers’ website says. Applications must include a description of the farm or ranch including any historical information and the environment it operates in, what the operation is doing to improve environmental management through energy, water, land, wildlife, etcetera, and their goals for the future.

“The ESA Awarding

Committee will consider the nominees’ philosophy and management plan for range/cropland; riparian areas and water; wintering or feeding sites; manure management; wildlife and wildlife habitat; and animal welfare. They will also consider nominees’ involvement in the community, extension, and environmental stewardship activities, as well as their goals, implementation, and accomplishments,” the website says.

Province puts $75,000 toward concussion awareness efforts

Nathan Reiter Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The provincial government is raising awareness about the dangers of concussions.

Wednesday, Sept. 24, will mark Alberta Concussion Awareness Day while the entire week from Sept. 21-27 will be Concussion Awareness Week.

Over the past three years, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport has invested $75,000 in concussion awareness throughout the province.

During a press conference in Edmonton, Dr. Kathy Belton from the University of Alberta spoke about the dangers of concussions.

“Concussions are a serious public health issue in Alberta and can happen anywhere and to anyone.” Belton explained. “A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury and is caused by any blow to the head, face, neck or body. And it changes the way a per-

son thinks and feels. Approximately 41 Albertans sustained a concussion each day. That’s almost 15,000 concussions annually being diagnosed in Alberta emergency departments. That number does not include concussions being treated in physician’s offices, walk-in clinics or those not recognized or treated”

According to Belton, the top three causes of concussions in the province are falls, motor vehicle collisions and sport activities.

One sport that has seen scrutiny about concussions in recent years is football.

According to a 2024 study from Mass General Brigham, a cohort of 2,000 former NFL players were interviewed and 25% believed they were experiencing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which is a brain disease linked to repeated head injuries. It causes the death of nerve cells in the brain and can only

Wishing our local farmers a safe &productive harvest season.

be definitely diagnosed during an autopsy of the brain.

In a study performed by Boston University, CTE was found in the brains of 345 of 376 deceased former NFL players.

Tim Enger, the executive director of Football Alberta says the sport

needs to lead by example in terms of concussion prevention.

“Our sport is particularly popular on television. You can watch football anywhere from June all the way to February. It attracts a large viewership at the professional level. 20 years ago, it was a bit of a cri-

sis and people were paying attention to it. It’s not only important for it to be recognized today, but every day. We need to be particularly vigilant because concussions (are) an invisible injury. It’s something that we’re not 100% sure it’s there. We have to be erring on the side of incredible cau-

tion. The more we bring it up, the more we focus on it, the better we’re going to be in terms of being able to identify, treat, and reduce incidents.”

More information on concussion prevention, management and treatment can be found at sportmedab.ca

Province, rural Alberta poised to

George Lee Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Alberta’s rural municipalities appear to be forging an improved dialogue with the provincial government, despite past clashes over how much and when they’re consulted.

Recent interviews with key players suggest that they’re ready to work together and hear each other out on major issues — things like funding levels for roads, bridges and other infrastructure, and a new system to deal with accusations of poor councillor conduct.

Their comments follow Dan Williams becoming minister of municipal affairs in May, when he was shuffled from mental health and addiction.

Williams toured central and southern Alberta during the summer to meet with elected and unelected

leaders from more than 40 municipalities.

Kara Westerlund, president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, said she’s glad the minister took to Alberta’s highways and byways. Williams is “incredibly approachable” for her and the association’s member municipalities, she said.

“I hope he does that every summer, and that he comes to break bread in our backyard to truly see who we are, how we live and what we have to contribute to the province and the country,” said Westerlund, a councillor from southwest of Edmonton in Brazeau County.

The RMA has criticized the dome’s recent record on legislation that affects how municipalities operate and govern. Often the association has said it was not properly consulted before bills were introduced and advanced. It also wants the province to tie

up loose ends dangling from new laws.

The legislature is set to resume Oct. 23, after sittings over the last two years approved a raft of changes for municipal governments to contend with.

The province created provisions to order electorate votes on the removal of councillors who cabinet deems unable, unwilling or refusing to perform elected duties. The government can also revoke or revise bylaws that cabinet determines clash with provincial policy, contravene the Constitution, or exceed local scope or authority.

Municipal governments are no longer allowed to use electronic tabulators to count votes in elections, and they can no longer have their own codes of conduct.

Rules surrounding campaign finances and intermunicipal relationships

have changed. So have the duties of key administrative staff, including chief administrative officers.

Not all the changes are controversial. For example, the UCP government has

improved voter accessibility for people with disabilities and people displaced by wildfires.

But it’s also moved towards creating a provincial police service. Although crime and police response times are an ongoing issue along roads less travelled, municipalities worry that the expertise and professionalism of

Local hunter shares a different kind of shot

Leslie Cholowsky Editor

Dean Fahner, who lives in Flagstaff County, says he was raised by his grandparents, and brought up to be an avid hunter and naturalist.

He’s an accomplished hunter and fisherman, and describes himself as very outdoorsy.

He spends as much time as he can outside, and enjoys a wide variety of activities like fishing, hunting, and more and more lately, photographing his surroundings.

Fahner says he’s developed quite an interest in photography over the past few years, especially with the advent of smart phones, with built-in cameras that can rival higher-end DSLRs for quality.

He shared his Hardisty

tornado photos with us earlier in the year, and invited us recently to view some of his other photos.

As a hunter, he finds himself in places and situations that offer a unique opportunity for getting photographs that most people will never come across.

Plus, he says, just living in Flagstaff County offers him the opportunity to shoot great wildlife and landscape photos.

For Fahner, sometimes getting a great shot simply means stepping outside onto his porch in the Flagstaff County countryside. Take the fox who he discovered last winter, all curled up in the snow whenever the sun came out, or the rainbows that fill the wide-open skies out his back door.

For other photos, it’s the pride of the hunt,

whether that’s bagging a good day’s quota of geese, an unusual duck or goose, fishing for catfish (catch and release) on Alberta or Saskatchewan lakes, or even a bear cub in its den. (which, incidentally, came about through a fishing trip).

For Fahner being outdoors, hunting his food, that’s second nature for him. And what he hunts, the family eats. He enjoys

everything from Goose burgers, made by a local butcher shop, to the freezer full of bison that he’s presently enjoying. He’s been shooting since he was a small child.

He’s Métis, and is also active with the Métis Nation of Alberta.

He’s worked with them on Winter Fishing Camps with Métis kids. He’s also working on a new project that will be televised that

Changes to hunting regulations for 2025

Leslie Cholowsky Editor

There have been some changes to the Alberta Hunting regulations for 2025 hunting season.

Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen says “As we head into the 2025-26 hunting season, hunters should carefully review this year’s guide due to a number of regulatory updates.

“Earlier this year, Alberta’s government was proud to introduce amendments to both the Wildlife Act and the Wildlife Regulation, modernizing our approach to wildlife management.

“These changes recognize Alberta’s ongoing committment to conservation and the effective stewardship of the province’s wildlife populations, ensuring hunting is safe and sustainable for generations to come.

“We work hard to ensure hunting rules and regulations reflect current scientific knowledge and align with best practices across Canada.

“Key improvements include streamlining enforcement, reducing

administrative burdens, improving clarity for hunters, and introducing new hunting opportunities.

“When properly managed, hunting in Alberta plays an important role in balancing ecosystem health and raising funds for conservation.”

The definition of an Alberta Resident has changed to be someone whose primary residents has been in Alberta for at least a six-month period

preceding the relevant date, and who is a Canadian citizen, or permanent resident of Canada, or someone who has living in Canada for the 12month period preceding the relevant date, or who is a full time Armed Forces of Canada member.

Hunters must now remove and return any tracking devices found on animals who are legally killed or found dead to the Wildlife Service.

Hunters may now shoot

from a non-powered wheelchair or mobility aid without requiring a ‘Weapons Discharge Permit’ while hunting.

The minimum age for youth to hunt big game is now 10 years old, so a 10year old can hold a big game licence and apply for draws. Minors who

hold a federal minors firearm permit may be exempt from supervision requirements.

A minimum edible portion of big game must be recovered by hunters if fit for consumption on big game.

Residents may access outfitter-allocated big game licences. Anyone who kills a male sheep over one year of age must deliver the complete, unaltered skull with horns and eye intact within 14 days of the close of the season or 30 days after the date the animal was killed.

Continued on Page 22

Carfentanil deaths on the rise in Alberta

Alexandra Noad Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A sedative intended for large animals is believed to be the cause of a recent increase of opioid related emergencies, specifically to the Edmonton region.

According to the Canadian Center of Recover Excellence (CoRE) carfentanil can be up to 100,000 times stronger than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl, with microgramlevel amounts causing life-threatening overdoses.

Rob Tanguay, senior medical lead of compassionate intervention at Recovery Alberta, says many drug users become highly tolerant to drugs, including fentanyl, and need stronger substances to get a high.

“The reality is, for a drug user who happens to be highly tolerant shifting to a more potent drug creates a sense of euphoria or high they couldn’t get before and it’s something that people will seek out.”

During the week of Aug. 25, Emergency Health Services (EHS) in Alberta responded to 321 opioidrelated events, which was a 39 per cent increase from the previous week, and Edmonton accounted for 73 per cent of those calls.

While EHS numbers can vary and more calls don’t necessarily indicate more deaths, Recovery Alberta is concerned about carfentanil’s growing presence in opioid-related deaths.

From January to May of

this year, 68 per cent of opioid deaths in Alberta involved carfentanil, which is a 10 per cent increase from last year.

However, in Edmonton the number of deaths involving carfentanil jumped from 17 per cent to 78 per cent.

There have not been any reported deaths form opioid overdoses involving carfentanil in Lethbridge since 2023. However, Tanguay says that doesn’t mean it has not already made it into the drug supply here.

“We’re worried what’s happening in Edmonton is (carfentanil) is replacing fentanyl and that’s extremely scary.

“Just because we don’t see it today in Lethbridge doesn’t mean it’s not there today and won’t be affecting us tomorrow.”

Naloxone can help during an opioid overdose involving carfentanil, but multiple doses may be needed to reverse its effects. Naloxone kits, available at most pharmacies, contain a single dose each. Opioid agonist treatment (OAT), such as Suboxone and methadone remain the standard approach and there are no carfentanil-specific treatments.

Recovery Alberta continues to expand OAT, which helps stabilize people, reduce cravings and prevent overdose.

Tanguay adds that OAT is a major part of the Compassionate Intervention Act, to help those who are suffering addiction to get the help they need.

“We will be doing it

with peers and people with lived experience, we will be doing it with a medical approach, which will include medications, and we will be doing it with as much evidence-informed processes as possible.”

As part of this effort, advanced care paramedics in EHS’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program can give first-line OAT medication right in the community. Communities with Mobile Integrated Healthcare include Leth-

bridge, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Edmonton, Camrose, Peace River and Calgary.

An emergency response team is currently in place to monitor clients in and around Hope Mission’s Herb Jamieson Centre in Edmonton. The team of primary care paramedics, nurses and health care aides are responding to mental health and addiction crises including overdoses.

Tanguay encourages everyone to carry Nalox-

one kits and to have compassion toward the vulnerable population.

“People don’t choose to live homeless, people don’t choose to live in

poverty, people don’t choose to live suffering with addiction, but we as a society have chosen to allow it and that has to stop.”

Outdoors

Continued from Page 9

who wouldn’t normally have an opportunity to hunt. The Métis Nation recently purchased some land near Tofield, and Fahner has been in to scout it out. The plan is to spend a day with a group of kids, he says, “Where we show them everything about whole hunting.” From the hunt, to the kill, and finally, return to the Fahner’s where his wife Joan will prepare wild meat for dinner.

Fahner says he’s excited about working with Métis youth, and teaching those who’ve never had a chance, “showing them about whole hunting practices.”

He’s also gone into local schools where he’s talked to students about hunting, trapping, fishing, and how nature is changing to adapt to the environments.

He also works with the Métis Nation on bird counts, banding projects, including a new one building Motus towers in Alberta, similar to those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which are used to track banded birds, recording where and when they go by to determine migratory routes, stopover sites.

Other conservation work he does includes water testing and fish sampling, pollinator studies, and even berry

picking Fahner has said that “Being Métis comes with a responsiblity toward protecting our lands, waters, and wildlife, which we’ve been working hard to do for generations.”

Fahner used to trap and hunt coyotes, but since the bottom dropped out of that market, with prices dropping from $135 to just $15 per animal, it’s no longer worth his time.

He still does some trapping, and likes to accompany a friend who hunts cougar.

Fahner usually isn’t too far from his two labs, Maggie and Sadie, and they feature often in his photos.

Fahner retired recently, and he is actively looking forward to doing photography, which he’s become more and more interested in over the past few years.

The next thing on his wish list is to purchase an actual digital camera, so he’s not so reliant on his phone, and not limited to its zoom capabilities, then he plans to start exploring nature photography even more.

He has no plans to slow down, planning to be more involved in conservation and environmental studies.

Nature provides craft inspiration

Vanessa Poitras Staff Reporter

You can get creative this fall with some fun crafts that can be used for Thanksgiving, holiday cards, or simply as a hands on, sensory experience for any age.

Found online, the ideas pictured are unique and all materials needed are found in nature. Fallen leaves are the base of these crafts.

The possibilities are only limited to your imagination. Test your skill and imagination by creating any animal you can think of. Examples include birds, squirrels, dinosaurs, caterpillars, and nature scenes.

By using the leaves in different ways, ripping or cutting into shapes

needed, almost anything can be crafted from leaves, branches, and needles. This activity is a great way to strengthen fine motor skills as well as relax or unwind.

Being creative can improve mood, concentration, and dexterity, while offering a mindful way to de-stress.

"The hands-on nature of crafting involves movement, dexterity, and coordination, which can contribute to improved physical well-being," the Diversitech Global website says, “from reducing stress and boosting selfesteem, to improving cognitive abilities and promoting an active lifestyle.”

At any age, remember to create and have fun.

So

From

To

Much

In

the RCMP will be lost if the national service is pushed aside.

Funding levels and formulas for infrastructure continue to be inadequate for expansion and maintenance, the RMA says. The problem goes back two or three decades, Westerlund said.

The RMA — which represents 69 municipal jurisdictions that blanket more than 85 per cent of the province’s landmass — estimates that an infrastructure deficit affecting its member municipalities has reached $17.25 billion. Given current funding trends, the deficit will grow to more than $40 billion by 2028, the association predicts.

The roads and bridges portion alone of today’s deficit is about $14 billion, the RMA has calculated.

Devin Dreeshen, the minister of transportation and

economic corridors, said he’s “all ears” if municipalities have innovative ideas to fund the maintenance and expansion of roads, bridges, and water and wastewater infrastructure.

The government “loves working with RMA and all the rural municipalities across the province, because they truly are what makes Alberta great,” said Dreeshen, the member for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake.

“To make sure we have thriving rural communities is important,” he said, noting that the resource sector operates in the countryside.

“We obviously want to help as much as we can.”

That desire is behind $118 million in grants in the current budget to municipalities for water and wastewater projects, he said, and some of the grant approvals address the added pressure of serving the resource industry.

“But demand is always greater than the dollars that we have available,” Dreeshen stressed.

Williams, the member for Peace River, said relation-

ships and attitudes are in the right place. The RMA’s president has “an open mind, looking to try to find solutions while looking after the best interests of all of her members,” the municipal affairs minister said.

“If you care about the ratepayers across every single county in the province, and I care about all the citizens of the province, then we're fighting for the same end. Starting from that position puts us to great advantage. No one's looking to dunk or score points in this relationship. We're looking to find productive solutions.”

Williams continued: “Will there be differences? Of course... I have an ultimate responsibility to make sure municipalities are run well. That's a different role than the RMA has as an advocacy body for the wideranging views of many, many municipalities.”

Rural municipalities are “on the ground and on the frontlines,” he said, meaning they can provide feedback he and the government need.

Seeking more money at every turn, however, won’t work. That’s especially true given the deficit situation the province is in and the desire to be “as fiscally prudent as we can be,” Williams cautioned.

“But if it’s all about finding common ground and finding innovative solutions and making sure that we prioritize the right things at the right time for municipalities, then that’s where we can find a huge amount of forward movement.”

Westerlund concurred that a rural perspective is

important. “Sometimes it's easy to make decisions and have theories and suggestions in downtown Edmonton, sitting in the legislature,” she said.

Provincial lawmakers need to “take a walk in our shoes to see what's actually happening and truly understand the direction that we're going in,” she said. “If what you're trying to fix is not broken, why are we fixing it?”

Just after his rural tour, Williams said he was impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit and wealth of

innovation demonstrated by community leaders. Westerlund said she’s “not surprised” that Williams hears about entrepreneurialism and “the passion and the drive of rural Alberta.”

She continued: “I eat and breathe it every day, and I couldn't be more proud of the people we have living on the rural landscape. They are resilient a bunch, and when push comes to shove, for every problem and every issue that we have, we have 10 or 15 solutions.”

New SAIT certificate to funnel grads straight to employer

Kaiden Brayshaw Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Samir El Jamal, a recent Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Technology grad at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, was hired by Lufthansa Technik Canada after

completing his program. For future students like El Jamal, the pipeline from his alma mater to his current employer will be streamlined, something El Jamal is admittedly jealous of. With its first intake this spring, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technol-

ogy’s (SAIT) new Gas Turbine Technician Certificate will help train the next generation of aviation mechanics and potentially guarantee them job placement.

The certificate will include support from Lufthansa Technik Canada’s (LTCA) Fuel

the Future initiative and will prepare graduates with the technical skills and regulatory awareness needed to meet increasing demand for gas turbine expertise, according to a SAIT-issued press release.

SAIT will be Alberta’s first post-secondary

school to offer a program of this kind and will be “uniquely positioned to meet the needs of a growing aviation sector across Calgary,” the release reads.

At least 10 students from every 32 student cohort will be offered a sponsorship opportunity,

through the Fuel the Future initiative. LTCA will provide chosen students with financial support to cover tuition costs and tools, a salary during their studies and guaranteed job placement with LTCA following completion of the program.

Continued on Page 18

“It’s a great opportunity for them,” El Jamal said of the sponsorship.

“The program that SAIT has set up for them, as well as the help that (LTCA) is going to be providing to students, is going to create opportunities for everybody.”

Max Schramm, President and CEO of LTCA, said that the inspiration for the initiative came from diversity and equity.

“We noticed when we went through the school that there was one demographic that was missing, which was lower income classes, visible minorities quite often. We asked, ‘why is that?’ and the answer was the cost, or the perceived cost, of such programs, are becoming such an entry barrier for students that they don’t feel comfortable applying for these positions,” he said.

“We as an industry have an obligation to the community to make this industry more accessible and to allow people from lower income classes, all walks of life and visible minorities, to have a chance at actually becoming a mechanic without having to worry.”

Schramm said that sponsorship recipients will apply directly through LTCA’s website, and go through a thorough selection process.

“We’ll be putting these positions out at the beginning of October,” he said.

Above the minimum 10 recipients in each cohort, Schramm said that if more applicants show high-level talent, the

company will sponsor accordingly.

Schramm said that LTCA’s investment is complementary to other recent aviation-based provincial projects.

“WestJet, obviously, is at the center of the growth that you’ve seen in Alberta. Last week’s announcement, which

was absolutely phenomenal with CAE to create a training centre here in Alberta, is just another testament of the willingness of the sector to grow here in Calgary and in Alberta,” he said.

Dr. David Ross, President and CEO of SAIT, said that the LTCA partnership adds to the re-

cent opening of the Imperial Energy Innovation Centre on modernising programs and integrating students with industry.

“We’ve been very lucky, the partnerships that we’ve been able to build over the recent times, I think are outstanding,” he said.

“We’re seeing international companies from around the world understand us, come to us and they realize the quality of the graduates, in terms of that hands-on experience, we want our graduates to be ready

day one, not have to go to an organization and be retrained redeveloped, but they’re ready to start their career and add value to those organizations, and this program will be part of that.”

Stay safe on the farm this fall by reducing hazards

Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

From 2011 to 2020, 624 Canadians were killed by agriculture-related injuries, averaging 62 deaths per year, according to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting. Fifty-four per cent of fatalities were related to machinery, 58 per cent of those who were killed were farm owner/operators, and 11 per cent were their children.

“People are the most important resources on any farm. As a farm owner, you want to see every employee, including family members, go home safely at the end of the day,” FarmSafe Alberta’s Safety Planning Guide for Farms and Ranches says.

Hazard identification is one of the first steps in preventing injuries on the farm.

“Hazardous situations may be created by animals, machines, or processes, chemical and biological materials, environmental conditions, and personal lifestyles. A hazard is a situation, condition or behaviour that has the potential to cause injury or loss,” the guide says.

Once a hazard has been identified, the next step is to apply

control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk of harm. The FarmSafe guide recommends using the hierarchy of controls which is listed in order of effectiveness: Eliminate, Substitute, Engineered Controls, Administrative Controls, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

“For instance, an engineered control is deemed to be more effective at reducing risk than an administrative control. Furthermore, an administrative control tends to be more effective than personal protective equipment. PPE should always be considered as the last line of defense for the worker should the hazard occur. As you consider the hierarchy of controls, determine if the hazard could be completely eliminated or if any substitutions could take place,” the guide says.

Engineered controls include guards, fences, ventilation systems, barricades, and automatic shutoff devices.

“An engineered control places a structure, barrier, design, or modification between the worker and the hazard and can reliably minimize the hazard and reduce the source of the exposure,” the guide says.

An example of an administrative control measure is pre-

ventative maintenance.

“To proactively avoid hazards and lost productivity caused by the breakdown of equipment, tools, and machinery, you should develop a preventative maintenance policy and equipment maintenance schedule.

Equipment breakdowns can cause injuries, property damage and costly production delays, all of which can be reduced by the use of a preventative maintenance system. Base the standards for the maintenance program on the manufacturer’s recommendations, industry standards, past incidents, and data from hazard

assessments,” the guide says.

As mentioned, PPE is the last on the hierarchy of controls, and is recommended to be used in addition to the other controls.

“PPE should be your last resort, and should always be used in combination with other control methods. PPE is often the easiest control to apply, but it is usually the least effective,” the guide says.

During Canadian Agricultural Safety Week in March earlier this year, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson encouraged farmers to keep operations safe, sus-

tainable, and successful.

“Effective and proactive health and safety measures are an integral part of thriving farming operations. As farmers and ranchers prepare for the upcoming season, it’s important to remain diligent and focused on safety. I encourage you to take the time to renew your commitment to safety, because even one injury is too many. Employers, workers, and the government all have a role to play in agricultural workplace safety. Let’s work together to make sure Alberta farmers and ranchers stay safe,” he said.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ADVERTISE WITH AND SUPPORT LOCAL CANADIAN MEDIA INSTEAD OF AMERICAN SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES?

WHEN YOU DITCH INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED CANADIAN MEDIA, CONSIDER THE IMPACT IT’S HAVING ON ALL OF US

The skins of black bears and cougars may now be abandoned and wasted only if the edible portions of the meat of those animals are recovered.

If the skins are abandoned, the meat must be tagged like other big game animals such as deer, elk, or moose.

Antlered mule deer Landowner Licences will be limited to 25 per cent of the total resident permits in each WMU and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

The mandatory submission of white-tailed and mule deer heads for CWD surveillance has been expanded for 2025.

Dogs may now be used to hunt black bears in September and October in certain WMU’s.

Double-crested Cormorants are considered a game bird and huntable during duck seasons. Their flesh may be abandoned or wasted but

dead birds must be recovered from the field and properly disposed of.

Hunters may now shoot at migratory birds from an unanchored, powered boat; however, the boat cannot be moving due to the momentum imparted by a

motor (or sail).

Turkey can now be hunted with any weapon that is not prohibited for hunting upland game birds.

Anyone guiding a resident hunter for game bird hunting for gain or reward must be a regis-

tered guide and outfitter or working for a registered outfitter. That outfitter must be hunting under a waterfowl privilege in the fall season but doesn’t need a waterfowl privilege when hunting with resident clients in the spring

white goose season.

The minimum edible portions of game birds that must be recovered by hunters, if fit for consumption, are the breasts.

Youth under 10 are exempt from the need for a provincial game bird licence while hunting game birds; however, they must be with a licenced adult and any birds they harvest will be considered part of the adult’s limit.

The minimum draw weight for bows has been reduced to 35 ounds to draw an arrow 28 inches to its head.

It is now legal to use a leashed tracking dog to help recover shot at big game that is presumed dead or wounded. The

dog may only be brought into the area after the shot, and must remain leashed at all times.

Muskrats and doublecrested cormorants can now be hunted by an owner or occupant, or a resident authorized in writing by the owner or occupant, without a licence on private land.

Minors who possess a federal minors firearm permit and who are using that firearm in accordance with their permit’s conditions may be exempt from being supervised while using a firearm for hunting.

Landowner permission should be sought by all hunters before going on any privately owned land.