The annual Spring Fling Show and Shine will happen June 6 at the Sukanen Ship Museum grounds.
“We’ve had over 100 cars some years,’’ said spokesman Garry Davis.
The numbers “all depend in the weather and what else is going on.’’
The show and shine prefers cars of 1980 vintage and older.
“We get cars from all over. A few years ago we had some from Prince Albert come down. We usually get some from Regina.’’
Car show groups enjoy the Spring Fling where they can relax and view the museum displays.
“We have over 90 cars in the buildings in the museum.
“We have lots of room There is no worry about overflow.’’
One big draw for the car show is “the driver and one passenger get in free.’’ Most car shows charge the driver and passenger.
All the buildings are open. “We have a food booth. They can come and make a day of it.’’
The first 100 cars will get a dash plaque.
The show starts at 10 am on the Saturday an ends at 4 pm.
Awards handed
The show, started by the fire hall committee, has occurred 17 times with a break for the Covid—19 pandemic.
The Model Engineering Show is held in conjunction with the car show and will display some of the scale models in the museum collection.
The museum is 13 km south of Moose Jaw on Highway Two.
out are the People’s Choice and the Best Car.
End of an era: Snowbirds’ Tutor fleet to retire after 2026 season
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will temporarily stand down after the 2026 air show season as the federal government retires the team’s aging CT-114 Tutor fleet and transitions to a new aircraft platform expected to enter service in the early 2030s.
The announcement, made May 19 at 15 Wing Moose Jaw by National Defence Minister David McGuinty, confirms the Tutor aircraft will retire after more than six decades of service and 55 years as the Snowbirds’ signature jet.
Federal officials also confirmed the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) plans to procure the CT-157 Siskin II, based on the Pilatus PC-21, as the Snowbirds’ future training and demonstration aircraft.
“2026 will mark the final season of the CT-114 Tutor aircraft,” McGuinty said during the announcement inside 7 Hangar, adding that the new fleet “will ensure that Canadians and supporters across North America continue to enjoy the iconic nine-plane Snowbirds formation for generations to come.”
The announcement follows weeks of concern over the possibility of a lengthy operational pause.
McGuinty said Ottawa has already selected a replacement aircraft and intends to move quickly through procurement, although officials did not provide a timeline for the team’s return to the skies after the Tutor fleet retires.
“It will take some time for the aircraft to roll off the production line, but we’re moving as quickly as we possibly can,” he said.
Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-
Blanchet, who also spoke at 7 Hangar, said the decision reflects both RCAF modernization efforts and the growing difficulty of maintaining the aging Tutor fleet.
“This is a significant moment, and it is an emotional one,” she said. “There are engineering challenges related to the age of the aircraft that have changed that situation, which is why the fleet will retire in 2027 instead of 2030.”
The federal government previously allocated approximately $30 million in 2021 toward extending the Tutor fleet’s lifespan through 2030. Officials said modernization work included upgraded cockpit systems in 11 aircraft, although further life-extension efforts involving engines, airframes, and escape systems
proved increasingly difficult.
Despite the operational pause, federal officials stressed the Snowbirds program is not ending and will remain based in Moose Jaw.
“The plan is to continue to call the fleet the Snowbirds and … yes, to keep the fleet here in Moose Jaw, where we believe the fleet belongs,” McGuinty said, adding: “This is where the Snowbirds are, this is where the Snowbirds belong, and this is where the Snowbirds will stay.”
The announcement was welcomed cautiously by local officials, with Mayor James Murdock saying it offers some reassurance despite ongoing questions
about the length of the transition period.
“The Snowbirds are cherished by our entire nation, and they define us. It’s who Canadians are and what Canada is,” Murdock said, adding that Moose Jaw “really is the only community that they belong in as their headquarters.”
Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said provincial officials had raised concerns directly with Ottawa in recent weeks.
“We understand that safety must be paramount in decisions like this, but the importance of the Snowbirds continuing and being based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, is our primary concern,” McLeod said.
The Snowbirds’ command team described the 2026 season as a celebration of both the Tutor aircraft and the people who built the team’s legacy.
“With 431 Air Demonstration Squadron standing down temporarily in 2027, every loop, roll, and formation pass this season carries even greater meaning,” the statement read.
Since 1971, the Snowbirds have performed more than 2,700 official air shows across North America, becoming one of Canada’s most recognizable military symbols and a defining part of Moose Jaw’s identity.
The Snowbirds are scheduled to return to the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport on July 11 for what is now expected to be the team’s final hometown performance with the CT-114 Tutor aircraft.
Jamie Speiser-Blanchet speaks inside 7 Hangar at 15 Wing Moose Jaw on May 19 as members of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and a CT-114 Tutor aircraft stand behind him during the federal government’s announcement on the future of the aerobatic team.
Photo by: Aaron Walker
David McGuinty announces the future replacement plan for the Canadian Forces Snowbirds during a presentation inside 7 Hangar at 15 Wing Moose Jaw on May 19. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Stringam Law celebrates grand opening in Moose Jaw
A growing Western Canadian law firm officially welcomed the community to its new office last week, marking the next chapter in a merger that local lawyer Talon Regent says will allow him to focus more directly on serving clients while expanding legal service offerings in the city.
Stringam Law hosted a grand opening celebration May 20, inviting residents to meet staff, tour the newly renovated space, and learn more about the firm’s plans for growth in Moose Jaw.
Regent, formerly operating independently as Regent Law, officially joined Stringam Law on May 1 as an equity partner after nearly a decade practising as a sole practitioner.
“I am an owner and operator, and that’s something I’ve emphasized to all of my clients since I merged with Stringam after nine years as a sole practising lawyer,” Regent said. “Stringam is not a big city law firm coming into the community. Our office is still locally owned and operated.”
Regent said the merger followed a period of rapid growth tied partly to technology he developed to streamline legal services and remote transactions across Saskatchewan through his secondary brand, Easy eLaw, available at EasyELaw.ca.
“In 2024 and 2025 my business expanded significantly by virtue of technology that I had developed and integrated into my practice,” Regent said. “By 2025, (my practice had grown) to such a high volume of work that I either needed to quit being a lawyer and become a
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
CEO and business manager ... (or partner with another firm), but at the end of the day I want to be a lawyer. I don’t want to be a businessman.”
He said joining Stringam allowed him to spend more time focusing on legal work and serving clients while relying on the larger administrative infrastructure already established within the firm.
“When I explored the various options, Stringam was ultimately the one that I fell in love with because they have a very similar vision for the future of the practice of law,” he said. “That includes technological integration, but also prioritizing small urban centres like Moose Jaw as a key part of the future of the practice.”
Real estate law remains the largest part of Regent’s practice. He also said he hopes to expand access to wills and estates services, which he described as a growing need within the community.
Stringam Law CEO Kurt Schlachter said Moose Jaw plays an important role in the firm’s broader Saskatchewan expansion strategy.
“We’re really happy to be part of the community and to have moved into a new space that we hope to continue growing into over time,” Schlachter said.
The firm currently operates offices across Alberta and Saskatchewan and traces its roots back to Lethbridge, Alta., where the original practice first opened in 1913.
Schlachter said the Moose Jaw office is expected to continue expanding its legal service offerings.
“Because of the size of our firm, and (because we’re) spread out throughout the provinces, we can cover just about anything,” he said. “We’ll find the right lawyer to help the client.”
Regent also said he hopes the new office will continue growing over the next several years.
“In two to three years, I am hoping that our space here is totally full,” he said. “(I hope) we have two or maybe even three additional lawyers within the office, and we are delivering national law firm-quality services at small-town rates.”
For more information, stop by the office at 100 Fairford Street West, Unit B, phone 306-694-4922, or visit Stringam.ca.
Talon Regent, second from left, and Kurt Schlachter, third from left, stand with staff members during the grand opening celebration for Stringam Law’s new Moose Jaw office on May 20. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Editor’s Note
RITCHIEMoose Jaw Express EDITOR
As I have often mused on my life thinking of how I will create a legacy to live beyond my years for my family, I have realized that it just doesn’t happen overnite. In reality, a legacy is built every single day through actions, values, sacrifices, and the impact left on other people. A legacy is not just a building, a name on a sign, or a historical record. It is the lasting influence that continues long after the original creators are gone.
On a personal level, people build legacies through family, friendships, community involvement, and the way they treat others. A good parent leaves a
legacy in the character of their children.
A coach leaves a legacy in the confidence of young athletes. A community volunteer leaves a legacy in the strength of the organizations they supported. Most people want to feel that their life mattered and that they contributed something meaningful beyond themselves. That desire to leave a mark is deeply human.
In a business, legacy often becomes tied to reputation, trust, and service. Businesses that survive decades usually do so because they consistently provided value and built relationships within their communities. Their legacy is not simply profits; it is the jobs they created and the role they played in shaping the identity of their establishment for the betterment of their staff and community. Businesses with strong legacies often become institutions themselves because people associate them with reliability and commu-
nity pride.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
Institutions, however, may create the strongest legacies of all because they can influence generations. In Moose Jaw, the Royal Canadian Legion that is celebrating 100 years of service is a prime example. The Legion’s legacy extends far beyond remembrance ceremonies. It has supported veterans, provided gathering spaces for communities, raised money for local causes, and preserved the memory of sacrifice and service. Over a century, the Legion has helped connect generations of Canadians to the values of duty, resilience, and patriotism. Communities benefit greatly from institutions like this because they provide continuity, identity, and shared purpose.
The recent announcement regarding the future grounding of the Snowbirds in 2027 also raises serious questions about legacy and national identity. For decades, the Snowbirds have repre-
Moose Jaw Express is proud to support free community access to ParentTV through the library. ParentTV is an online parenting support platform featuring over 2,000 expert-led videos and courses covering topics such as child development, mental health, anxiety, behavior, screen time, and more — helping support families at every stage of parenting.
Moose Jaw families, caregivers, educators can access ParentTV anytime using their postal code at: library.parenttv.com/library/mooseje
Video of the Week:
“What to do when you’re feeling disappointed in your child or teen”
With Jason Gibson
There will be plenty of times in your parenting journey when you feel disappointed in your child or teen and how they’ve behaved. Jason Gibson gives some clear advice about how to manage those feelings without doing the wrong thing by your child.
I love what he says the last 20 seconds“I want you to rest in this, that your child was uniquely chosen for you. And what that means is you’re going to have enough to be for them exactly what they want to be and what you need to be for them. It’s not that you’re going to be perfect because you are not, but you will be perfect just for them.”
sented Canadian excellence, discipline, and pride across North America. Their performances inspired countless young people to pursue aviation, military service, and engineering careers. They also became symbols of unity and national pride for Canadians coast to coast.
If the Snowbirds ultimately disappear, the repercussions will extend far beyond airshows. A living legacy risks becoming only a memory. Future generations may lose a powerful symbol that connected Canadians through inspiration and tradition. While legacies can survive historically through stories and archives, institutions remain strongest when they continue evolving and inspiring in the present day.
Ultimately, legacies matter because they give meaning to effort, sacrifice, and service. They remind future generations where they came from, what values mattered, and what is worth preserving.
Send your letters to the editor to: joan@moosejawexpress.com
All columns, letters to the editor and editorials are solely the personal opinions of the writers themselves and not necessarily the opinions of The Moose Jaw Express.
The contents of this publication are the property of the Moose Jaw Express. Reproduction of any of the contents of this publication, including, but without limiting the generality of the following: photographs, artwork and graphic designs, is strictly prohibited.
There shall be no reproduction without the express written consent of the publisher. All ads in the Moose Jaw Express are published in good faith without verification. The Moose Jaw Express reserves the right to refuse, classify, revise or censor any ads for any reason in its sole discretion. This paper may include inaccuracies or errors. The Moose Jaw Express does not under any circumstances accept responsibility for the accuracy or otherwise of any ads or messages in any of the publications editions. The Moose Jaw Express specifically disclaims all and any liability to advertisers and readers of any kind for loss or damage of any nature what-so-ever and however arising, whether due to inaccuracy, error, omission or any other cause.
All users are advised to check ad and message details carefully before entering into any agreement of any kind and before disclosing personal information. If in doubt, please take legal advice.
Publisher: Robert Ritchie - rob@mjvexpress.com
Editor: Joan Ritchie -joan@moosejawexpress.com
Sales: Wanda Hallborg - mjexpress7@sasktel.net
David Klatt - david@moosejawexpress.com
Kevin Ogle - kevin@saskpromo.com Thank you to all the contributing writers, without your
JOAN
Don’t miss our pre-planning seminars
Join Michael Penner for an infor mal 90 Minute Seminar. Your free meal is cour tesy
Tuesday, June 2 nd th
~ Rodo’s Pizza Event Room
9 t h A ve nu e So u th & Gran d v i e w St, M oo se Ja w 6:30pm (your choice from the menu)
TUESDAY, June 9
~ Rodo’s Pizza Event Room
9 t h A ve nu e So u th & Gran d v i e w St, M oo se Ja w 6:30pm (your choice from the menu)
Registrations open for 2026 Moose Jaw Hometown Parade
The countdown to one of Moose Jaw’s signature summer traditions is officially underway, as organizers open registrations for the 2026 Moose Jaw Hometown Parade.
The annual parade is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, beginning at 7 p.m. as part
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
of the upcoming Moose Jaw Hometown Fair festivities. This year’s parade theme is “Salute to Your Heroes.”
According to information released by the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company, the parade will begin on Town and Country Drive by the mall be-
fore merging onto Saskatchewan Street East and proceeding south along Main Street, concluding at Manitoba Street. Organizers noted the parade is considered complete for all participants once they reach Manitoba Street and reminded entrants to obey all traffic signs following the route.
The Hometown Parade has traditionally marked the unofficial start of fair weekend in Moose Jaw, drawing crowds to Main Street North each June. Last year’s “Colours of Summer” theme inspired a variety of brightly decorated entries, including several celebrating Saskatchewan Roughriders pride.
Due to increasing operational costs tied to hosting the parade, organizers confirmed that there will once again be a $25 registration fee for each application.
All parade participants are required to submit a signed application form, with organizers encouraging entries to incorporate this year’s “Salute to Your Heroes” theme into their float, performance, or display where possible. The application package also states that all entries must carry liability insurance.
Participants are expected to assemble in the former Sears parking lot at the Town ’N’ Country Mall unless otherwise directed by organizers, with confirmation notices for approved entries expected to be issued by June 12.
Organizers are also reminding participants that city bylaws prohibit items from being thrown from floats or moving vehicles during the parade due to safety concerns. Any candy, promotional items, or handouts must instead be distributed by walking participants, while water guns are not permitted.
Applications for the Hometown Parade are available through the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company by visiting
MooseJawEx.ca.
Entries can be submitted in person, by mail, email, or fax through the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company office at 250 Thatcher Drive East, Moose Jaw, Sask., S6J 1L7, by email to MooseJawExh@sasktel.net, or by fax to 306-692-2762.
For more information or if you have not received confirmation by June 12, contact Moose Jaw Exhibition Company general manager George Fowler at 306-692-2723.
Michael Penner Purple Shield Representative
By
How to Plant Containers
I love growing a garden in a container! It is easier, there is no dealing with the challenges you may find in your local soil, and I can control all facets of the growing!! The only downside is you always need to do more watering!
If you are new to growing in containers, then we need to begin with the basics. Ensure that whatever you are using for a container has adequate drainage holes. My favourite containers, are large tree pots that I obtained by planting container trees. However, you can always use a vessel that was once used for something else – as long as it is of non-toxic material and you can drill holes so water can leave the pot/container.
As you are providing the entire home for the plants you put into the container, it is important to choose plants that have similar cultural needs.
For instance, do not mix shade and sun lovers in the same pot and ensure that the moisture levels that plants will need are similar.
When it comes to choosing between plastic or terra cotta – I recommend using plastic or glazed pots unless you are growing succulents or cacti. Terra cotta pots breathe well and dry out quite quickly, while plastic or glazed/sealed pots tend to breathe less as they are impermeable to air and water. I always prefer using the pot within a pot technology, as then you retain the pretty and the practical and maintenance is simplified.
Bigger is generally better – but that is also dependent on what is growing. Tomatoes and other fast growing, heat loving veggies need to be planted in what seems like a ridiculously large pot in early summer. Do not worry – the tomatoes will grow and will need to have a water reservoir in order to provide you with tasty tomatoes right through until our temperatures drop in the fall. For other plants, you are better off, transplanting as the plant grows.
For annual ornamental plants – the pot size is generally set and you fill the container accordingly. If you wish to have an early show with a full container, you literally overplant in the spring and as summer progresses and your annuals get larger, some will be removed.
If you do not follow this guideline, then plant with some extra space in the spring. I generally plant at about 80% of what is recommended if you were planting in a bed and thus hit the middle ground for container success throughout a season of three to four months. If you have a longer season, then plant at a higher percentage than 80% spacing.
with a dilute solution. Leave a couple of inches of headspace to the rim of the pot, so watering is simplified.
Never fill your containers with only garden soil as the plants will never do well. Use a peat based potting mix as it will give proper aeration and drainage. If you are potting up containers outside, then you can mix your own with one part garden soil: two parts peat moss: and 1 part perlite.
Fill the container about three quarters of the way with your soilless mix and then add a bit of slow release fertilizer like 14:14:14. This will help your plants to have enough food to grow to their best ability. I find that sometimes, I do not feed the containers with great regularity so this helps reduce this habit as summer progresses and other things get in the way of the best culture. Plan to feed weekly with a complete fertilizer or alternatively every time you water
Arrange the plants appropriately using the “Thriller, Filler and Spiller” and ensure you loosen any that are root bound. Choose plants that look attractive together and suit what you like to see. Water immediately with a dilute high phosphorus, complete fertilizer and enjoy the show you have created.
Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at growyourfuture@gmail.com on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort.
Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW… https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?
Patricia Hanbidge For Moose Jaw Express
Cornerstone’s production of ‘I See You’ earns top honours at provincial drama festival
Students from Cornerstone Christian School (CCS) are being recognized among Saskatchewan’s top high school theatre performers following a standout showing at the 2026 Saskatchewan Drama Association’s (SDA) Provincial Drama Festival.
The school’s production of I See You earned multiple honours during the festival, held April 29 to May 2, after advancing through regional competition earlier this spring. Only 12 productions from across Saskatchewan advance to the provincial festival each year.
Tanya Johnson, vice principal at CCS and one of the production’s directors, described the festival as one of the strongest showcases in recent years.
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
“It was an incredible provincial festival this year,” Johnson said. “Many of us who have attended provincials over the past number of years felt it was probably the strongest showing since COVID. It was filled with fantastic productions from across the province and really became a celebration of strong all the great things about theatre kids — cooperation, respect, and excitement about celebrating theatre. Those are all things we really want to demonstrate.”
Cornerstone’s production of I also drew attention for the complexity of the performance itself. Set inside a hospital intensive care unit, the production required students to portray medical professionals, elderly patients, and trauma victims while managing
“We had two retired nurses come in and work with students playing doctors,
nurses, and paramedics to help create realistic tasks on stage,” she said, noting their role in helping students deliver an authentic performance.
The production’s detailed stage work became a talking point at the festival, including a vending machine that appeared to function on cue during the performance.
“Our students working in set design had to create some theatre magic to make that happen,” Johnson said. “It
became a bit of a talking point at the festival, which was fun.”
In addition to the group honours, several CCS students received individual recognition. Ava A. earned the Ian C. Nelson Award for Acting for her role as Sharon, while Parker S. received the SDA Technical Performance Award for lighting design.
Certificates of Merit were also awarded to Carson G. for sound design, Elora M. for stage management, Phoebe S. for her role as Brett, and Lia B. for her role as Tanya. Olivia R. received a Debbie Baker Cheer Award recognizing leadership and contribution to the company.
Students also connected with playwright Bradley Hayward, who based I See You partly on his family’s experiences in intensive care.
Johnson said Cornerstone was the first school to stage the production, and some creative staging ideas developed by students during rehearsals will now be incorporated into the published script.
“He ended up incorporating some of the stage directions we developed into the published script, which is really special,” she said. The script is now available at BradleyHayward.com.
Johnson said the experience created lasting memories for the students involved, who ranged from Grade 7 to Grade 12.
“They put their heart and soul into these productions,” she said. “The experience created lifelong memories and friendships, and we’re really happy to be part of that community.”
Students from Cornerstone Christian School showcase awards earned for their production of I See You following the 2026 Saskatchewan Drama Association’s Provincial Drama Festival, held April 29 to May 2. Photos by: Cornerstone Christian School
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION
THE NEXT HOLY TRINITY BOARD MEETING IS MON. JUNE 15, 2026.
Trustees with Holy Trinity Catholic School Division discussed several topics during their May board meeting, ranging from choosing a new vice-chairperson to reviewing next year’s faith theme to learning about practising traditional indigenous protocols.
New vice-chairperson
A report noted that long-serving trustee Derek Hassen — who had been involved in education for 30 years — had resigned, which prompted a vote that appointed first-term trustee Lee Moyse as the vice-chairperson.
As vice-chairperson, Moyse was also named a signing officer for the school division. Meanwhile, trustee Alison Bradish was appointed as the parish council rep to Church of Our Lady, while chairwoman Joann Blazieko was named the school rep to Vanier Collegiate.
The report did not provide a reason for Hassen’s resignation, nor did the board provide a reason when asked for comment.
Transportation
Curt Van Parys, chief financial officer, presented a board policy about transportation, and while there were
Holy Trinity chooses new board vice-chairperson, reviews 2026-27 faith theme
Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express
no changes, he said “a tweak here and there” may be required if Holy Trinity acquires new paratransit buses from the City of Moose Jaw.
Continuing, the CFO said the city is refurbishing its fleet, so the school division has inquired about purchasing the two vehicles. He also pointed out that these buses would allow Holy Trinity to provide this service in-house instead of contracting it out.
“So hopefully (the sale) will come to pass by month’s end,” Van Parys added.
Ward Strueby, director of education, said it’s “not a fun conversation” to have with parents about why their children are 30 minutes late to school due to the lack of buses. So, these paratransit buses should ensure students arrive on time.
Faith theme
Holy Trinity’s faith theme for the 2026-27 school year is “Family in faith, community in action, growing in wisdom,” and is inspired by the second Catholic social teaching — which recognizes that the human person is sacred and social — and the Aboriginal sacred teaching of wisdom, a report said.
SNAPSHOT: Next stop, Moose Jaw
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
Also, the relevant Bible passage for the year is from the Book of Romans, chapter 12, verses four to six and nine to 13.
The report noted that in the Bible passage, writer St. Paul reminds readers that, while they are many in number, they are also considered one group or body in Jesus Christ, who have gifts that are for the good of society.
“This Scripture affirms the family of believers as the foundation of Christian life, calls us to active participation through love, services and hospitality, and invites continual growth in wisdom as we learn to live faithfully together,” the document said.
“In Catholic education, this vision shapes schools as communities where dignity is honoured, gifts are nurtured and all are invited to contribute to the common good, especially in care for the poor and vulnerable.”
Aboriginal traditional protocols
Holy Trinity has developed draft guidelines for the practise of traditional First Nation protocols in schools, including how to handle elders, smudging, pipe ceremonies, feast protocols and teepee teachings, Strueby said. These guidelines ensure that what the division does is “respectful” of Aboriginal culture.
Continuing, Strueby said he has learned the difference between ceremonial tobacco and regular tobacco from the organization’s knowledge keeper, Lyndon Linkletter, who has agreed to continue working on contract for the 2026-27 year.
The education director added that, among other things, the guidelines include sending letters home to families about smudging activities, which he thought was a “good practice” that prevented missteps or misunderstandings.
SNAPSHOT: Residents looking to catch Moose Jaw’s new FlixBus service can find the local stop on the west side of the Town ‘N’ Country Mall parking lot, located between the Lieutenant Colonel D.V. Currie VC Armoury and the former Sears store. The intercity bus service recently expanded into Saskatchewan, adding Moose Jaw to routes connecting travellers with Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, and other western Canadian destinations. Tickets can be booked online at FlixBus.ca or through the mobile app. Look for further details on Page A3 of the Wednesday, May 13, 2026, edition of the Moose Jaw Express. Photo by: Aaron Walker
CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION
Holy Trinity Catholic School Division plans to spend nearly $3 million during the next three years upgrading buildings throughout the division, including making major repairs at St. Michael School.
Division administration presented the 2028-2030 Preventative Maintenance and Renewal (PMR) plan during the May board meeting, with the document laying out the 32 projects the organization intends to pursue during the next several years.
The total amount Holy Trinity expects to spend is $2,763,500. 2028
The division plans to spend $721,000 on 10 projects in 2027-28, with notable initiatives including:
• $40,000 for asbestos abatement in all buildings
• $26,000 for IT upgrades in all buildings
• $200,000 to relocate St. Agnes
School’s administration office
Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express
• $26,000 to rejuvenate classrooms at St. Agnes
• $150,000 to repair the exterior of St. Michael
• $150,000 to replace a rooftop unit at Vanier Collegiate
• $65,000 to pave the bottom of Henleaze Avenue at Vanier
• $26,000 to renovate classrooms at Vanier 2029
Holy Trinity expects to spend $1,003,000 on 12 projects in 2028-29, with notable initiatives including:
• $40,000 for asbestos abatement in all buildings
• $26,000 for IT upgrades in all buildings
• $150,000 to replace a rooftop unit at Vanier
• $100,000 to repave Vanier’s staff parking lot
• $50,000 to re-floor Vanier’s Sion Hall
• $26,000 to renovate Vanier’s classrooms
• $120,000 to repair a wall in Vanier’s industrial arts room
• $100,000 to repave St. Michael’s parking lot
• $300,000 to repave the catch basin around St. Michael
• $26,000 to rejuvenate classrooms at St. Agnes
2030
The division plans to spend $1,039,500 on 10 projects in 2029-30, with notable initiatives focusing on:
• $40,000 for asbestos abatement in all buildings
• $26,000 for IT upgrades in all buildings
• $150,000 to replace a rooftop unit at Vanier
• $100,000 to replace a roof section at Vanier
• $26,000 to rejuvenate classrooms at Vanier
• $500,000 to install new metal cladding and insulation at St. Michael
• $30,000 for a pneumatic conversation at St. Agnes
• $40,000 to replace a roof section at St. Agnes
• $26,000 to renovate St. Agnes’ classrooms
The three-year plan includes $1,050,000 for St. Michael, although the division submitted a minor capital project application to the Ministry of Education for funding, a board report said. If the province approves that application,
the division will adjust its future PMR plans accordingly.
Meanwhile, with the province implementing the Accessibility Act, that legislation’s effect on infrastructure upgrades will be significant, the report continued. In future PMR plans, the division may have to dedicate some of its PMR funding to pursue accessibilityrelated projects and/or renovations.
The document added that Holy Trinity’s PMR funding for 2026-27 is $619,000, while since 2013-14, it has received $6.5 million.
Board discussion
Curt Van Parys, the division’s chief financial officer, said the current state of Holy Trinity’s infrastructure is “pretty interesting,” since the PMR plan does not include upgrades to four schools, since they are either relatively new or will soon be renovated.
Continuing, the CFO said the division is determining how much it will cost to upgrade buildings to align with the province’s accessibility legislation. He noted that costs will likely be “significant, particularly for St. Agnes.” That is why in 2026-27, an engineering study will determine whether it’s feasible financially and structurally to install an elevator there.
Van Parys highlighted the PMR funding the province has provided Holy Trinity since 2013-14, noting that the division welcomes “the funding very much.” He added that a “wrinkle this year” will see the division use all its PMR funding to complete the project at École St. Margaret School.
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION
Educator Rose Mary Hartney taught at Vanier Collegiate for 39 years, including 30 years as its vice-principal, and even in death, she will continue to affect students’ future education.
Hartney died in 2023 at age 72, and as part of her final wishes, her family donated $89,000 to Holy Trinity Catholic School Division to create a Vanier Collegiate Scholarship Fund for youths pursuing post-secondary education.
Division administration spoke about the donation during the board of education’s May meeting.
Sarah Phipps, superintendent of learning, explained that division office staff have held two meetings with the school administrators to determine how best to use this money. Furthermore, they developed a list of qualities that Hartney demonstrated during her time in Holy Trinity and that students should also be expected to demonstrate.
Continuing, Phipps said that be cause the scholarship will likely be “a significant amount of money — likely the most awarded per year at Vanier” — students will also have to meet certain qualifying parameters before they can apply.
Division administration has also decided that, because of “some subjec tive pieces” in awarding the scholarship, senior leadership will decide which students receive the money, not Vanier staff, said Phipps. Also, because creating this scholarship has been a lengthy pro cess, the school will award the money to graduating students starting in 2027.
Phipps noted that division adminis
Jason G. Antonio - For
would cover about one semester of postsecondary education.
One trustee asked whether a member of the local Knights of Columbus chapter could join the committee to ensure the decision-making process was fair. Phipps replied that administration chose five people to comprise the committee to ensure there are no ties during votes.
“But nothing is set in stone … . We were trying to make sure that we had some school involvement, some board involvement and something that reflected Rose Mary and her outside life,” added Phipps, “which is why we chose CWL.”
Rose Mary Hartney’s life
According to Hartney’s obituary, she was a lifelong supporter of everything in Moose Jaw and spent her life serving others. She attended Church of Our Lady for 66 years, where she as-
sumed leadership roles in liturgy, parish council, CWL and pastoral care.
Furthermore, Hartney taught, advocated for and guided the education of countless students, while she supported colleagues and the educational and athletic programs at Vanier and in the community.
Meanwhile, although she was a non-athlete, Hartney served many years on the Moose Jaw High School Athletics directorate. Moreover, she was the academic advisor for the Moose Jaw Warriors, chair of the Providence Place Foundation Board, and secretary of Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers, plus other volunteer activities. She also provided care for her family and friends, particularly those in their declining years.
“Her service was characterized by generosity, leadership, loyalty and kindness,” her obituary added.
Rose Mary Hartney. Photo courtesy Moose Jaw Funeral Home
‘Sunflower Saturdays’ returning to Moose Jaw Co-op in support of humane society
After weeks of protecting thousands of young sunflower plants from frost, snow, and cold prairie nights, Len and Bernie Mintenko are preparing to once again set up outside the Moose Jaw Co-op Food Store with bright blooms in support of the Moose Jaw Humane Society.
The local couple’s annual “Sunflower Saturdays” fundraiser returns beginning May 30, with more than 2,000 homegrown sunflower plants expected to go on sale to help raise funds for the shelter.
Mintenko said this spring’s unpredictable weather created some extra work behind the scenes as the couple worked to keep the plants healthy and on schedule.
“Well, we’ve got everything up now. We’ve got over 2,000 plants,” Mintenko said. “It’s been a bit of a challenge with the weather over the last few weeks, covering them up four or five times, and then over the weekend we had to put them in the garage for three days. That slowed a couple of varieties down a little bit.”
The fundraiser has steadily grown since launching in 2022, originally as a way to support humanitarian efforts connected to the war in Ukraine. Since then, the Mintenkos have expanded the project into a yearly community fundraiser supporting local causes while promoting pollinators and gardening throughout Moose Jaw.
This year’s sales will again support
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the humane society, something Mintenko said remains important to both him and his wife.
“The Humane Society is a good organization to support, especially with everything they have going on caring for the animals and working toward building a new facility,” he said.
Despite rising costs, the couple has kept the price at $2 per plant for the past four years, with 50 cents from every sale donated directly to the shelter.
The fundraiser’s growing popularity is already showing through this year’s pre-orders, with more than half the crop
SNAPSHOT: Royal visit for ‘Prince of Egypt’
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SNAPSHOT: Cast and crew members with Born to Be Arts Academy gather on stage at the Mae Wilson Theatre following opening night of The Prince of Egypt, joined by Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre at centre. The large-scale musical production, featuring a local cast of singers, dancers, and performers, ran May 21 to 23 and brought the biblical story of Moses to life through live music, choreography, and theatrical staging. Photo by: Born To Be Arts Academy Moose Jaw/Facebook
already spoken for ahead of the first public sale.
“We’ve pre-sold over 1,000 plants, so half of them are already gone before we even start the public sales,” Mintenko said, adding that people are “following through and making sure they get what they want.”
The pre-sale total marks a substantial increase from last year when the couple received just over 600 advance orders at around the same time.
Several sunflower varieties will once again be available this season, ranging from compact ornamental
blooms to towering plants several metres tall. Varieties include Teddy Bear (Helianthus annuus ‘Teddy Bear’), known for its fluffy double blooms; Velvet Queen (Helianthus annuus ‘Velvet Queen’), recognized for its deep burgundy-red petals; compact dwarf cultivars such as Sunspot Dwarf (Helianthus annuus ‘Sunspot Dwarf’) and Bert’s (Helianthus annuus ‘Bert’s’); and larger varieties including Kong (Helianthus annuus ‘Kong’) and Giant Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus), both capable of reaching roughly 12 feet in height.
Mintenko said the Teddy Bear variety continues to be one of the fundraiser’s most sought-after plants each year.
“The Teddy Bear is always a popular one,” he said. “They’re the smallest variety, and that’s the one holding us back a little bit right now (given the growing conditions), but we’ll still have them available for the sale.”
The upcoming “Sunflower Saturdays” sales are scheduled for May 30 and June 6 outside the front entrance of the Moose Jaw Co-op Food Store from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an additional June 13 sale planned if any plants remain available.
Residents who missed the original pre-order deadline can still reserve plants by contacting LenMintenko@ gmail.com or by calling 306-693-1728 ahead of the upcoming public sales.
Bernie, left, and Len Mintenko, right, are preparing to once again bring their annual “Sunflower Saturdays” fundraiser back to the Moose Jaw Co-op Food Store in support of the Moose Jaw Humane Society. The couple is pictured during the fundraiser’s 2025 season. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Walk for Dog Guides returns May 31 with message of hope and inclusion
For Moose Jaw resident Laurie Ewen, the annual Walk for Dog Guides is a chance to give back to the organization whose service dogs helped transform her son’s future.
The Walk for Dog Guides returns to Wellesley Park in Wakamow Valley on Sunday, May 31, featuring a three-kilometre walk, presentation, and courtesy lunch in support of Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with the walk starting at 10 a.m. and wrapping up around noon.
For Ewen and her family, the organization’s autism assistance dog program helped open doors they once were not sure would be possible for her son, Steven.
“My son has autism, and we applied for a dog guide through the Lions Foundation Canada Dog Guides program,” Ewen said. “He was provided to us at no cost ... and they paid for our flight out to Oakville for training.”
Steven first received his black Labrador retriever, Bingo, in 2017. After retiring in 2024, Bingo was succeeded by Doug, another black Lab and Bingo’s great-nephew.
She said the difference the dogs made in Steven’s daily life was immediate and dramatic.
“The year before he had his dog with him at school, he ran away from school over 20 times,” Ewen said. “From 2017 until Bingo retired in 2024, Steven only ran away from school three times.”
Ewen said autism assistance dogs help provide emotional regulation, safe-
Aaron
Walker - Moose Jaw Express
ty support, companionship, and sensory grounding.
“One of the services autism assistance dogs provide is called a visit,” Ewen explained. “They rest their head on the child’s lap, and the child can pet the dog and calm down that way.”
Beyond emotional support, Ewen said the dogs can also play a direct safety role. She recalled one incident involving another family whose child attempted to run toward a puddle near traffic while tethered to the dog’s harness.
“The dog felt the tug and dropped down, stopping the child just as a truck went by,” Ewen said. “They are literal life savers.”
Steven is now studying environmental engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, while working as a research assistant in Saskatoon alongside Doug. Watching that transformation firsthand is one of the reasons Ewen continues helping organize the walk each year.
“I’ve watched it from step one to finished product, and it’s amazing that a donation can change a person’s life from ‘Will I be able to finish school?’ to ‘We’re going to be an engineer,’” Ewen said. “I’m forever grateful to every person who’s made a donation because they’ve changed our lives.”
Donations support seven dog guide
“Best before’’ date change wanted
Ron Walter - For MooseJaw Express
The federal government’s new food strategy should revise “best before’’ labels, according to a food rescue organization.
Second Harvest made the suggestion in its Date Coding and Food Waste report.
The report pointed out internationally there is a trend away from “best before’’dates on food products.
Many consumers believe the dates tell them when the product is no longer safe to eat. They refuse to buy and retailers throw away good food.
The “best before’’ dates merely tell when the product is at peak freshness.
Canada wastes 46.5 per cent of its food, down from 58 per cent seven years ago. That waste represents $58 billion of food.
The report says almost one-quarter, ($13.3 billion) could be saved by changing best before dates.
The best before dates could be extended in time to actual shelf life, and should be removed from shelf stable products.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
programs across Canada, including autism assistance, canine vision, hearing ear, seizure response, diabetic alert, service, and facility support dogs. Ewen said each dog costs roughly $35,000 to breed, train, and place with recipients at no cost to families.
Participants of all ages are welcome to take part in the walk, which features a wheelchair-accessible three-kilometre route with a shorter turnaround option available. Organizers will also share fundraising totals following the event before serving a pizza lunch provided by Family Pizza.
Pet Valu Moose Jaw co-owner Michelle Erdahl, whose store has helped support the fundraiser for several years, encouraged residents to support the event if they are able.
“It goes toward a great cause,” Erdahl said. “If people can come out and donate, we’d really appreciate the support.”
All residents are welcome to attend, with donations in any amount appreciated. Cash and cheque donations will be accepted at the event, while credit and debit donations can be made online through WalkForDogGuides.com. Tax receipts are available for donations over $20.
For Ewen, the day is about more than fundraising.
“Seeing people out there supporting service dogs means so much because it shows support for people in the community living with disabilities,” she said. “It just feels like we’re heard.”
Steven Ewen meets his first autism assistance dog, Bingo, at left at age 10, alongside a later photo showing his introduction to Doug several years later. The two black Labrador retrievers were provided through Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides and have played a major role in Steven’s daily life and education journey. Photo by: Laurie Ewen
Peacock Show N’ Shine highlights student autobody program, racing legacy
Classic cars, student-built projects, and decades of racing history filled Ross Street East outside A.E. Peacock Collegiate on May 20 as the school hosted its annual Show N’ Shine fundraiser in support of restoring its former race car.
The show brought together students, alumni, and car enthusiasts for an evening centred around automotive culture and the restoration of the school’s historic 1981 Pontiac Firebird.
Brad Raes, vice-principal at A.E. Peacock Collegiate, said the event continues to grow while highlighting one of the school’s most unique educational programs.
“The car show was put on by the school, and our SEC students are back here cooking food,” Raes said as the show was getting started. “Right now, probably about 35 per cent of the entries are student vehicles.”
Several students were still putting the final touches on their vehicles as the event approached.
“We’ve got a bunch of kids with projects that are nearly done but didn’t quite make it,” he said. “We also had students scrubbing away in the shop all
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A partially restored 1981 Pontiac Firebird tied to A.E. Peacock Collegiate’s former student racing program is displayed during the school’s Show N’ Shine event in May 2025. Organizers hope to have the car roadworthy for next year’s show following ongoing restoration work. Photo by: A. E. Peacock Collegiate/Facebook
day getting things cleaned up and ready so they could be here.”
Despite rainy weather limiting attendance from some out-of-town participants, the school still hoped to draw around 100 vehicles, while much of the evening’s attention remained focused on former Peacock students and the history tied to the school’s longrunning automotive programs.
Food bank matching campaign nears goal
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The Moose Jaw and District Food Bank said its spring matching campaign is closing in on its fundraising target, with community donations nearly reaching the halfway mark needed to unlock the full matching contribution from InterPro Pipe + Steel.
According to a campaign update covering May 1 to 15, residents had donated $9,798.50 as of mid-month, leaving just $201.50 needed to reach the $10,000 community fundraising goal. Through the partnership, InterPro has committed to matching donations dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000, creating the potential for $20,000 in total support.
The food bank thanked residents
According to Raes, the school’s student racing program operated for roughly two decades, beginning with a 1968 Chevelle before transitioning to the Pontiac Firebird during the 1990s. Students worked on and raced the vehicles throughout the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s before the program eventually ended due to insurancerelated challenges and the car was later sold.
Former principal Dustin Swanson later tracked down and repurchased the Firebird roughly eight years ago, returning the vehicle to the school and reviving interest in Peacock’s automotive history.
When the car returned, however, it was no longer in driving condition. Raes said the vehicle was missing both its engine and transmission, prompting students and community partners to rebuild the car using donated components and modern upgrades.
The ongoing project includes an LS engine donated by SGI as part of an “LS swap” conversion — a popular performance modification in the automotive community — along with electrical, fuel management, and interior components donated by Murray GM.
“We’ve been doing a modern hot rod-style build by LS swapping it, which has been a neat experience for the kids,” Raes noted.
He said the restoration project gives
students hands-on experience while also reconnecting the school with an important part of its history.
“We had several people show up to the car show who wanted to see the car and share stories,” he said. “I’m trying to collect photos and stories from alumni who used to work on and race the car so we can keep that legacy alive.”
Peacock’s autobody program now stands as what Raes believes is the province’s last remaining true high school autobody class, surviving despite rising material and operating costs that have led similar programs elsewhere in Saskatchewan to disappear.
He added that partnerships with local businesses and industry supporters continue to help sustain the program while creating opportunities for students interested in automotive trades careers.
“There are several examples of student work here that show how important the program is,” Raes said. “Finding places for kids who are passionate about this kind of work is a fantastic opportunity for everybody.”
for donating, sharing campaign information, and encouraging others to contribute, noting that the support helps provide “food, dignity, and hope” within the community.
The campaign continues until May 31. Monetary donations can be made online at MJFoodBank. org/?form=DonateNow, by e-transfer, cash, or cheque through the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank. For more information, visit MJFoodBank.org or call 306-692-2911.
Look for additional details on Page A28 of the Wednesday, May 13, 2026, edition of the Moose Jaw Express.
Vehicles line Ross Street East outside A.E. Peacock Collegiate during the school’s annual Show N’ Shine fundraiser on May 20.
Photos by: Aaron Walker
By Joyce Walter - for Moose Jaw Express
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
Am I too old to see unpaused version of Snowbirds? Reflective Moments
On Saturday, July 11, 2026 I will join hundreds of others at the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport to view the performance of The Snowbirds at a hometown show, produced alongside blooming canola fields on what is hoped will be a sunny, cloudless day, with nary a disturbing breeze.
It was always my intention to be present at this show, even before the May 19 announcement that sealed the fate of Canada’s iconic air demonstration team. Following the announcement my decision to attend was cemented in determination to arrive early and play my role in helping the show happen.
By now we all know that the federal government has decreed that this season will be the final one for the Snowbirds’ Tutor jets. But don’t despair. The minister and RCAF commander assured the news conference that the Snowbirds will only be paused until the 2030s while new turboprop aircraft are obtained from a Swiss supplier.
The supposed good news in this announcement was that the Snowbirds will remain stationed at 15 Wing Moose Jaw and will continue to be known as the Snowbirds, the name un-
der which the team has flown for the past 55 years.
There were no smiles at the plan to make sure the Snowbirds stayed in Moose Jaw. Why would there be when the future plan for keeping the pilots, ground crew and support staff occupied while “stood down or paused” is vague and unexplained.
Sorry Mr. Minister and Madam RCAF official, this non-plan is ludicrous. Yes, pilot safety is of the utmost concern but then again, it hasn’t been a secret that the life of the Tutor was close to expiration more than a decade ago. This showcases political dithering at its finest and does nothing to ensure any confidence that the Snowbirds will ever fly again. And that is a pity.
What does this mean for me personally as a devoted fan for all of those 55 years?
At my growing age, and with a “pause” of at least five years, I am unlikely to see the Snowbirds fly again if I don’t see the team in the sky in July. In other words, it is possible I will have gone to my own “pause” before the “Birds” fly again.
My family is known for long lfe, so I suppose there is a chance that with some excellent
medical care and drugs, I might outlive the “pause” and will be taken by caregivers to see a Snowbirds’ show. Will there be a heart formation in my honour? Will I understand why I’m in a field being told to look up?
Over the years I’ve been privileged to work with several
Snowbirds’ teams in support of air shows and other events I’ve helped organize. And I’ve always been rabid in my declaration that the Snowbirds are from Moose Jaw.
My personal thanks to the entire team for 55 years of excellence. It has been a pleasure
to watch in wonderment as nine lights approach and the show continues in the sky. Thank you for your service. May your “pause” be worthy of your dedication.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Crime trends remain down as police board reviews April reports
The Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners received updated policing statistics, downtown call-for-service data, and a monthly financial report during its regular public meeting on May 14.
Held in the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) meeting room, the meeting included three administration and information reports submitted by Chief Robert Davis: the service’s monthly operating budget update, the April 2026 statistical extract, and a separate report examining calls for service in the downtown area.
Crime statistics
The April statistical report showed overall crime and calls for service continuing to trend downward compared with the same period in 2025.
Year-to-date figures showed total crimes against the person declined 20.8 per cent through the end of April, falling from 183 incidents in 2025 to 145 in 2026. Assaults dropped from 112 to 84 incidents, while sexual assaults declined from 17 to eight.
Property-related offences were also down, decreasing 4.6 per cent yearover-year, with 391 incidents reported
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one incident to three.
Downtown calls for service
Commissioners received a report examining calls for service in Moose Jaw’s downtown area as part of the service’s ongoing monitoring of policing demands in the city core.
Victim Services reported $131,998 in revenues through April and $82,574 in expenditures. Overall combined net expenditures for police and Victim Services totalled approximately $4.19 million through the first four months of the year.
Statistics presented to the Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners on May 14 showed crimes against persons, property offences, and calls for service all declined through the first four months of 2026 compared with 2025.
The update came alongside broader service statistics showing the MJPS responded to 5,899 calls for service through the first four months of 2026, down 12.4 per cent from 6,731 calls during the same period last year.
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through April compared with 410 during the same period last year. Thefts under $5,000 fell from 177 to 166 incidents, while break and enters declined from 42 to 37.
Some categories showed increases, including assaults on police officers, which rose from two incidents to 10 year-to-date, and motor vehicle thefts, which increased from 11 to 14 incidents.
Impaired driving offences also increased from 19 to 26 incidents through the first four months of the year, while cocaine-related drug offences rose from
The statistical extract also showed continued enforcement activity in areas including impaired driving, court-order compliance, property offences, and drug-related incidents.
Budget oversight
As of April 30, the service reported $1.06 million in revenues, representing 37.23 per cent of its $2.849-million annual revenue budget.
Expenditures totalled approximately $5.3 million, or 30.3 per cent of the service’s $17.49-million operating budget, with labour costs accounting for the largest share at roughly $3.42 million, followed by employee benefits at approximately $816,820.
Guidelines for Submitting Letters to the Editor:
Due to space allotment in Moose Jaw Express for free letters to the editor, we find it necessary to establish some guidelines in submissions that will be in effect.
• All letters to the editor submitted to the Moose Jaw Express newspaper should not exceed 900 words. In this case, we reserve the right to edit them accordingly.
• Please do not write letters of personal attack or are condescending.
• A full name and contact information will need to be included with
Re: Place Your Bet! Alberta knows the Federal Government can’t be trusted especially when it says it will do everything to make Alberta an “Energy Superpower”! I’m sure you will be able to take bets soon on which item the dysfunctional Government of Canada will have ready next with a replacement for Canada; the Prime Minister’s
Re: The Grounding of the Snowbirds
The board also adopted the minutes from its April 22 public meeting. According to those minutes, Vice-Chair Jamey Logan chaired the April meeting in the absence of board chair Mayor James Murdock. Commissioners Don Hand, Rebeca Johnstone, Katherine King, and Kelly Baxter were present, while Commissioner Patrick Boyle was absent.
Chief Robert Davis attended the April meeting by video conference, along with Deputy Chief Rick Johns, finance administrator Lisa Renwick, superintendents Randell Boechler and Richard McKenna, and executive assistant to the chief Erin Bradish.
Following the public portion of the May 14 meeting, commissioners moved in-camera to consider matters exempt from public discussion under Section 27(15) of The Police Act, 1990.
each submission for verification.
• Only the name will be included in publication with the letter as the contributor.
• We Reserve The Right to Edit.
Send your letters to the editor to: joan@moosejawexpress.com
All columns, letters to the editor and editorials are solely the personal opinions of the writers themselves and not necessarily the opinions of The Moose Jaw Express
Residence at 24 Sussex Drive or the Snowbird Jets from 1960’s that the Government didn’t see would need replacing? How many Canadians are still driving their cars built in the 1960’s? Please help me finish this Letter to the Editor; Is this Liberal Government best described as LETHARGIC or COMATOSE???
Chris Robertson
So with the grounding of the Snowbirds for several years, the Government of Canada says it’s thinking of replacing the Snowbird jets with the CT-157 Siskin II. So we are moving from jets backwards to propeller aircraft. After a couple of years of no Snowbird jets, will the Liberal Government change their minds again, going backwards further, giving us: “The Snowbirds Synchronized Hot Air Balloon Team!” Or, on a late Friday afternoon, on a holiday weekend, three years from now, will the cowardly Government of Canada put out a short quiet news release saying: after carefully consideration and changing requirements, we have decided to cancel the Snowbirds altogether…
Chris Robertson
Photo by:
MJPS’ K-9 unit assists in arrest of man sought on Canada-wide warrant
The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) said its K-9 unit played a key role in the arrest of a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant during the weekend of May 16 to 17.
According to information released by police, officers worked alongside Police Service Dog (PSD) Mace during a search that led to the arrest of 20-yearold Brennen Chance Paczay.
Police said members “collaborated, searched, and located the wanted male hiding inside a residence,” with PSD Mace helping officers locate and extract the suspect from his hiding place before he was taken safely into custody.
In a public statement, the police service described its K-9 unit as an important resource supporting frontline policing efforts in the community.
“PSD Mace, along with our other
I work really hard at trying to see the big picture and not getting stuck in ego. I believe we’re all put on this planet for a purpose, and we all have a different purpose... When you connect with that love and that compassion, that’s when everything unfolds.
--
Ellen DeGeneres
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PSD Mace of the Moose Jaw Police Service assisted officers in the weekend arrest of a 20-year-old man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant after helping locate the suspect inside a Moose Jaw residence. Photo by: Moose Jaw Police Service/Facebook
K-9 members and their handlers, are truly an invaluable tool when it comes to assisting us in our commitment to public safety in Moose Jaw,” the service stated.
Paczay was arrested and held in custody facing several charges, including possession of a controlled substance, two counts of break and enter and commit theft, two counts of trespassing by night, fraudulent use of a credit card, attempted break and enter, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Police said Paczay was scheduled to appear in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on May 21.
Police service dogs are trained to follow scent trails connected to crimes such as break and enters, robberies, auto thefts, and weapons offences. Each handler works exclusively with their assigned dog, with teams undergoing 16 to 18 weeks of initial training before completing annual provincial certification requirements in areas such as obedience, tracking, person searches, evidence searches, and criminal apprehension.
Current members of the MJPS canine unit include PSD Mace and Const. Lea, PSD Argo and Const. Amiot, and PSD True and Const. Woods. Police also noted the dogs live with their handlers outside of active duty hours and regularly participate in school visits and community demonstrations.
The incident also highlighted the broader role played by the MJPS canine unit, which was established in 2009 and has since expanded beyond its original two-dog unit. According to the police service, canine teams are available around the clock and regularly assist with high-risk incidents, criminal apprehensions, evidence detection, tracking, and searches in both indoor and outdoor environments.
PUBLIC NOTICE DISCRETIONARY USE APPLICATION
The City of Moose Jaw, pursuant to Zoning Bylaw No. 5346 is considering an application to allow for a proposed “Commercial/ Institutional Recreation Establishment” and a “Licensed Facility in conjunction with and attached to a restaurant” on Lot 39, Block 227, Plan EX222, Ext 0, civically known as 844 Grandview Street West, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, which are discretionary uses within the C1 –Neighbourhood Commercial District. Additional information regarding the application may be found on the “City News” page at www.moosejaw.ca. The report, application, and any representations, will be considered by City Council on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall, 228 Main Street North.
Written submissions must be received by Planning & Development, 3rd Floor, 228 Main Street North, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 3J8, by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in person or by email at planning@moosejaw.ca.
Dated at the City of Moose Jaw, in the Province of Saskatchewan, this 21st day of May, 2026.
Dawn Lugrin Acting
City Clerk
PUBLIC NOTICE
CONCEPT PLAN AMENDMENT APPLICATION
The City of Moose Jaw, pursuant to Zoning Bylaw No. 5346 is considering an application to amend the Valley View In ll Redevelopment Concept Plan. The plan area principally comprises SW 29-16-26-2, Ext 4, Blk/Par B, Plan CX1021, Ext 0, and Blk/Par A, Plan 78MJ07626, Ext 1. The proposed amendment replaces both the land use concept map and the concept phasing map. Additional information regarding the application may be found on the “City News” page at www.moosejaw.ca. The report, and application, will be considered by Executive Committee on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, following the regular meeting of City Council in Council Chambers, City Hall, 228 Main Street North. Please note this is not a public hearing, though observers may attend.
Written submissions must be received by Planning & Development, 3rd Floor, 228 Main Street North, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 3J8, by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in person or by email at planning@moosejaw.ca.
Dated at the City of Moose Jaw, in the Province of Saskatchewan, this 21st day of May, 2026.
Dawn Lugrin
Acting City Clerk
Oh Clark’s
For nearly 26 years, Roger LaBelle quietly packed box after box of fresh vegetables before making the trip to the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank.
There were no announcements and no expectation of recognition. There were simply boxes filled with potatoes, carrots, zucchini, squash, and other produce grown through countless hours spent tending the large garden he loved after retirement.
Following LaBelle’s recent passing, his family hopes the community remembers not only the harvest he shared over the years, but the kind and caring man behind it.
“He was a really hard worker,” said Michelle Sanders, one of his two daughters. “My dad was 80 when he passed, but he was still growing a huge garden, and he was always building and fixing things for the neighbours.”
His daughter affectionately referred to him as “MacGyver,” a nod to the television character known for fixing almost anything. LaBelle certainly had a knack not only for fixing things, but for caring for those around him. Whether repairing farm equipment, volunteering for church projects, or lending a hand wherever it
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St W Moose Jaw 306-693-4334 Hwy #1 North Service Rd. Emerald Park 306-359-1964 521 South Railway St W. Warman 306-934-3880
A legacy grown with love: Roger LaBelle’s harvest of kindness lives on
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generosity that had long defined his life.
“We really felt we wanted to make one more donation of everything we could to the food bank, kind of in his honour,” Sanders said.
The moment was emotional, but Sanders said there was little doubt how her father would have felt about that final donation.
“I think he would have been really proud that we thought to bring whatever we could and carry on his legacy,” she said. “He would have been proud that we continued doing something that meant so much to him.”
Roger LaBelle is pictured with freshly harvested produce on the family farm near Ormiston, Sask. For nearly 26 years, he shared the harvest from his garden with the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank. Photo by:
was needed, helping others was simply part of who he was.
“He was always helping,” she said.
“Whatever was needed in the community, he was there.”
After retiring from his career as a farm machinery salesman, LaBelle and
his wife moved to a family farm near Ormiston, Sask., where he helped out around the property and devoted himself to cultivating a large garden of his own.
With more produce than two people could ever use and a belief that nothing should go to waste, LaBelle turned his harvest into an opportunity to help others.
“He brought carloads and carloads of produce to the food bank every fall because he couldn’t eat it all,” Sanders said. “He was at that age where you don’t waste anything.”
After LaBelle’s passing, Sanders and her sister, Monique Atherton, gathered his remaining produce, canned goods, and other unopened food items while settling their father’s estate, later bringing them to the food bank in honour of the
Sanders said her father’s generosity was part of a tradition that reached back generations. Growing up in Sedley, Sask., in a family of six siblings, LaBelle watched his own father regularly invite hired hands into their home for lunch, setting an example that stayed with him throughout his life.
Today, Sanders sees that same spirit of generosity carrying forward into the next generation.
“I think my sister and I are both very community-oriented people,” Sanders said. “We’re not going to waste things. We want them to go to people who can use them and need them.”
For the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank, LaBelle’s impact extended far beyond the produce he delivered each season.
“To Roger’s family, thank you for sharing him with us and with so many others,” the food bank shared. “To Mr. Roger LaBelle, we are forever grateful for your dedication, your generosity, and the beautiful legacy you leave behind. Your kindness will continue to grow in the community you cared for so deeply.”
Moose Jaw
Public Works Week showcase gives residents a behind-the-scenes look at city operations
Rows of municipal vehicles, handson activities, and educational displays helped connect residents with the people and services that keep Moose Jaw running during the City of Moose Jaw’s annual Public Works Week showcase, held May 20 at the Pla-Mor Palace parking lot.
Held as part of National Public Works Week celebrations, the event gave residents an opportunity to step behind the scenes and learn more about the work that often happens out of public view.
According to information provided by the city, attendance included 168 students from five schools, 21 participants from Diversified Services, and approximately 50 members of the public.
Children and families moved between equipment displays and interactive stations while speaking with city staff about the services and infrastructure that support everyday life in Moose Jaw. One of the busiest attractions was the city’s street sweeper, where children lined up for an opportunity to climb inside and take a closer look. Face painting, flower planting activities and games at the Safety Services tent also drew steady interest.
Although rainy weather brought the event to an earlier end than planned, visitors continued making their way through the displays and activities before the weather moved in.
Jessica Craig, administration support with city operations, said the city
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
hopes events like this help residents better understand the role public works services play in their daily lives.
“The City hopes residents gain an understanding of the services that Public Works provides, as well as an interest in how city-maintained infrastructure supports their everyday lives,” she said.
Several additions helped introduce fresh elements for returning visitors this year. Equipment displays included the city’s camera van and asphalt recycler, while visitors also had an opportunity to participate in interactive activities.
“New interactive games at this year’s open house included two activities at the Safety Services booth —
Plinko and a reaction-time game — as well as water hose bowling,” Craig said.
While many public works employ-
ees spend much of their time maintaining infrastructure and delivering services behind the scenes, the event offered a rare opportunity for residents to meet staff directly and ask questions about their work.
Craig said those conversations remain one of the most valuable parts of the event.
“These direct interactions are very valuable in helping build trust, increasing understanding of city operations, and giving staff an opportunity to showcase their work directly to the community.”
The showcase is part of Moose Jaw’s annual recognition of National Public Works Week, which this year marked the city’s 10th anniversary of formally recognizing the event.
“This annual event remains important in building community awareness, highlighting staff contributions, and strengthening the connection between residents and city services,” she said.
Photos by: City of Moose Jaw
‘Odyssey’ brings Alison Norlen’s personal world to the MJMAG
Aaron
Walker - Moose Jaw Express
What begins as a walk through a gallery quickly becomes something more intimate in Alison Norlen’s newest exhibition at the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery (MJMAG).
Running through Aug. 16 after opening May 22, Odyssey uses largescale panoramic drawings to guide visitors through rooms filled with books, furniture, keepsakes, and memories.
Subtle sounds of cats purring, dishes being washed, and other familiar rhythms of domestic life drift quietly through the space, creating the sensation that someone has only momentarily stepped away and turning the exhibition into something closer to entering another person’s world.
Norlen said the exhibition was partly inspired by the Dennis Severs’ House in London, an immersive historical home often described as a living still life.
Despite its deeply personal origins, Odyssey was never intended to simply showcase her home.
“I’m hoping that when people look at this room, or are in my panorama, they are transported to their own and think about the things they surround themselves with and how they make it cozy and safe and warm — a place they want to be in,” she said. “That’s very important to me, that it somehow has a
sense of familiarity and makes people think of their own experiences.”
Originally developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project began as a sketchbook exercise as isolation kept Norlen inside her Saskatoon home. With time seemingly slowing down, she found herself drawn to sketching the rooms around her in a notebook, an exercise
that began as simple observations of familiar spaces before steadily evolving into something more ambitious.
Many of the objects depicted in the drawings were drawn from years of collecting, gifts, and personal memorabilia. The resulting work eventually expanded into lifesize panoramic drawings, smaller embroidered works — a medium Norlen was experimenting with for the first time — and installations throughout the gallery. To further blur the line between representation and reality, she incorporated two chairs and a rug from her own home directly into the space.
Created on large sheets of Stonehenge paper using watercolour and chalk pastel, the drawings are displayed in the same stapled format Norlen uses in her own studio, offering visitors a glimpse into both the finished work and the process behind it.
Odyssey marks a noticeable shift for Norlen, whose established body of work has long focused on spectacle and large public environments. Throughout her career, she has explored spaces such as theme parks, carnivals, fairgrounds, and elaborate architectural environments.
“I spend a lot of time thinking about spectacle,” she said. “I really love things
that are quite extravagant.”
For Odyssey, however, Norlen moved in the opposite direction.
“This is unique to me because it’s quite a bit more personal, and there’s less distance for me from the content of this work,” she said. “I feel like it’s a tribute, in a way, to a past life.”
The exhibit’s title reflects that transition. Recently retired from teaching at the University of Saskatchewan, Norlen moved from Saskatoon to Kenora, Ont., leaving behind both the home represented in the work and a significant chapter of her life.
“It’s about leaving a part of your life behind and moving into something else that’s unknown,” she said about Odyssey
Internationally recognized for her large-scale drawings and installations, Norlen received a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Manitoba and a master of fine arts degree from Yale University. Her work has appeared in dozens of solo and group exhibitions throughout North America and abroad, while her pieces are held in collections including the National Gallery of Canada and Mackenzie Art Gallery.
For Norlen, the exhibition ultimately returns to something more personal. Rather than inviting visitors to simply look into her life, she hopes they leave thinking about their own.
“It’s meant to resonate with the viewer,” she said. “It’s not saying ‘Look at my place,’ but ‘This is something familiar.’”
MJMAG is located at 461 Langdon Crescent and can be reached at 306692-4471. For more information, visit MJMAG.ca.
Alison Norlen stands beside one of the works featured in Odyssey at the MJMAG on May 23. Internationally recognized for her large-scale drawings and installations, Norlen’s newest exhibition explores themes of memory, domestic space, and personal collections. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Furniture and objects from Alison Norlen’s own home were incorporated into Odyssey, helping blur the line between representation and reality within the immersive gallery installation. Photo by: Aaron Walker
A close view of one of the panoramic panels featured in Odyssey. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Newest MJMAG exhibition creates dialogue between art, objects, collecting
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
Two exhibitions opening at the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery (MJMAG) this month may occupy separate spaces, but visitors moving between them will quickly discover they are not entirely separate experiences.
Rather than existing independently, Stilled Lives was intentionally curated to create an ongoing conversation with artist Alison Norlen’s exhibition Odyssey, resulting in what museum director and curator Jennifer McRorie described as a close relationship between the two spaces.
“The Stilled Lives exhibition was curated to create a dialogue with Alison Norlen’s Odyssey, and because her drawings are full of household objects that have been collected as memorabilia and everyday objects that you surround yourself with, we thought that it would be interesting to (draw from the museum collection),” she said.
Both exhibitions opened May 22 and continue through Aug. 16.
A dialogue between exhibitions McRorie described the relationship as a “cross-pollination” between the spaces, where objects, themes, and ideas move between exhibitions rather than remaining confined to a single gallery.
While Norlen incorporated objects from her own home into Odyssey, museum artifacts and collection pieces also found their way into her installation.
At the same time, Norlen contributed objects of her own to Stilled Lives, including her taxidermy turkey, which became part of a museum-created still life arrangement.
“It’s very closely tied, which isn’t always the case,” McRorie noted.
Wall colours selected for Stilled Lives were chosen partly to reflect colours appearing within Norlen’s work, further reinforcing the conversation between the spaces. McRorie said the palette also drew inspiration from
traditional museum colours associated with institutions such as the Louvre, reworked into more vibrant tones that connected back to Norlen’s exhibition.
The result creates an experience where visitors moving between galleries encounter exhibitions that continually inform one another.
Looking beyond traditional still life
Drawn from both the museum’s art and heritage collections, Stilled Lives combines historic and contemporary works while incorporating traditional Vanitas themes, where carefully arranged objects can symbolize both the pleasures and temporary nature of life.
McRorie said the process also led her to reconsider the traditionally European roots of still life.
“Still life is very Eurocentric as a subject matter,” she said. “That’s why I started thinking it would be really interesting to have an Indigenous perspective on still life (exhibits).”
New perspectives
Among the featured works is TwoEyed Seeing by Métis artist David Garneau, one of the museum’s newest acquisitions. Garneau’s work combines objects associated with Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, creating dialogue between differing perspectives.
Featuring a cow skull stacked atop a bison skull, the work draws on symbolism connected to colonial history and the displacement of bison while exploring ideas surrounding reconciliation.
Other pieces push beyond conventional still life entirely. Joanne Lyons’ Needful Things examines themes of consumerism and excess through imagery connected to second-hand objects and discarded belongings, while Clint Neufeld’s Alternator transforms a mechanical car component into a decorative object that challenges assumptions about utility and meaning.
Alongside Odyssey and Stilled Lives, MJMAG is also presenting With Pride: Honouring the Legacy of Doug Townsend, celebrating works by artists of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities while recognizing Townsend’s contributions to Saskatchewan artists and arts communities.
For McRorie, the exhibitions ultimately ask visitors to think not only about art itself, but about the objects people choose to preserve and the stories they carry with them.
The Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery is located at 461 Langdon Crescent and can be reached at 306692-4471. For more information, visit MJMAG.ca.
David Garneau’s Two-Eyed Seeing, MJMAG’s newest acquisition, uses the imagery of a cow and bison skull to explore themes connected to Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, history, and reconciliation. Photo by:
Stilled Lives, on display at the MJMAG from May 22 to Aug. 16, explores themes of collecting, memory, and still life through works drawn from the museum’s permanent collection. Photo by: Aaron Walker
A still life display featured in Stilled Lives incorporates a Métis fiddle and sash, Alison Norlen’s taxidermy turkey, and artifacts from the museum collection as part of the exhibition’s cross-pollination between gallery spaces. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Aaron Walker
Homeowner concerned about SaskPower’s billing process for smart meters
Homeowner Garry Hunter is concerned about a technical discrepancy in how SaskPower’s billing system processes data from its smart meters and says the issue could affect users’ monthly bills.
Hunter, who moved from the Village of Macrorie to Moose Jaw in early May, said SaskPower installed a smart meter at his former home last July. Although he suspected something was wrong, he did not investigate until this February.
“I am sort of a geek when it comes to numbers and spreadsheets,” he said, noting he has tracked his monthly power usage and bills since 2013.
Hunter said smart meters record a total consumption snapshot at midnight each day, but he believes SaskPower’s
Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express
billing system uses that reading as the “end reading,” causing a month’s final 24 hours of usage to shift onto the next billing cycle.
This may balance out for long-term customers but creates issues when utility service changes hands because outgoing customers are not charged for their final 24 hours of use, while that expense is included on the new customer’s first bill, he continued.
Hunter contacted SaskPower’s billing department in February and March but said he struggled to obtain a technical explanation for why the utility’s daily usage website did not align with his printed bills, describing some responses as “bafflegab.”
The homeowner said he did not be-
lieve SaskPower was acting maliciously, but instead suspected a systemic calculation error or a misunderstanding in how digital timestamps interact with older billing software.
“I am concerned that if this logic is applied to all customers, it could lead to significant accounting discrepancies over time,” he said, particularly for businesses handling year-end accounting.
Hunter also told SaskPower that five days of electricity consumption data were missing from his online history in February. An employee said in an email that the system was down and the company did not receive real-time consumption data.
Hunter contacted the Ombudsman of Saskatchewan in March and shared the office’s April email response with the Moose Jaw Express.
The office said SaskPower confirmed Hunter’s bill began with the April 1 midnight reading, when he took possession of his bungalow, and that he was not charged for March 31 consumption.
The Ombudsman’s office also said SaskPower relies on midnight reads because of a “technical constraint” and cannot capture data at specific possession times. It added that the utility estimates bills when exact meter readings are unavailable.
The office noted an actual read was available from midnight on April 1, so SaskPower did not need to estimate his bill. The Crown corporation also confirmed that if a billing error occurs, customers can provide documentation and request a review and correction.
“Based on the information gathered, there is no administrative unfairness for our office to investigate at this time,” the Ombudsman’s email added.
Hunter said he was not upset with the Ombudsman’s decision because the office lacks the authority to fix the issue. However, he said the process did not make sense to him and was not how SaskPower should conduct its billing.
“My interest is in solving a problem. Once I solve it, I have no interest in it, really,” he said. “I’ve got an interest in this one because they didn’t do my billing right … .”
Hunter also said the smart meter at his Moose Jaw bungalow differed from his bill by one kilowatt hour based on a photograph taken at midnight on April 1.
“Nothing balances. If (SaskPower) does that with its bookkeeping, then what the (heck) is going on at SaskPower and how long has it been going on?” he added.
SaskPower responds
A SaskPower spokesman said by email that the company had “thoroughly reviewed” Hunter’s account and determined that he had been billed correctly.
The spokesman pointed out that smart meters automatically transmit data every 15 minutes, which means bills are based on the power customers use rather than estimates, while SaskPower can pinpoint and respond to outages more quickly.
“SaskPower’s billing processes are designed to ensure accuracy, consistency and compliance with regulatory requirements, and all concerns are taken seriously,” the email added. “We continue to work with customers who have billing concerns or questions to ensure they understand options and processes properly.”
Ombudsman’s office responds
An Ombudsman’s office spokesman said by email that the organization performs its work confidentially and does not comment on people who lodge complaints.
“We take each complaint that comes to our office seriously,” the email added. “Complaints are assessed for a fairness issue, and if we do not find an issue, we will explain our reasons to the person.”
Homeowner Garry Hunter stands beside his SaskPower smart meter at his bungalow on South Hill. He is concerned with the Crown corporation’s billing process and how it affects monthly bills. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
From The Kitchen
By Joyce Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
Cooled, make-a-head dishes greet warmer days
Warmer temperatures outside call for cool meals indoors.
This week’s recipes offer ideas for a make-ahead meal.
•
GINGER
ALE FRUIT SALAD
2 tbsps. gelatine
1/4 cup cold water
1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tbsps. sugar
1 cup Ginger Ale
1 cup grapes
1 banana
1 apple
2 oranges
Soak gelatine in the cold water for 5 minutes then dissolve in the boiling water.
Add lemon juice, sugar and Ginger Ale. Stir together. Set aside.
•
When the Ginger Ale mixture begins to thicken, fold in the fruit. Turn into molds and chill. Serve on crisp lettuce leaves.
SALMON LOAF
2 eggs
Cut grapes in half and remove any seeds. Slice banana. Peel and chop apples. Separate oranges into sections and remove membrane. Cut into smaller pieces.
1/2 tsp. pepper
3/4 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
6 soda crackers, rolled finely 2 tins salmon, drained and bones removed Beat together the eggs, seasoning and milk. Flake the salmon and add the soda cracker crumbs. Mix well. Add the eggs mixture and combine.
lace in a greased loaf tin and bake for one hour at 350 degrees F. Remove from oven, let cool then remove from the tin. Cool completely, wrap in foil and store in refrigerator. Slice thinly and serve with a complementary salad. Slices may be used in sandwiches.
• • •
PINEAPPLE SQUARE DESSERT
2 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 eggs
1 large can crushed pineapple 1/2 pint whipping cream
Mix wafer crumbs with 1/2 cup melted butter and mix well. Remove 1/4 cup and set aside. Press the remaining crumbs into a well-greased 9x9 inch pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
Cream 1/2 cup butter and blend in the icing sugar. Add two unbeaten eggs and beat briskly with an egg beater. Spread on the chilled crumb mixture. Drain the pineapple. Whip the cream and blend in the pineapple. Spread on the icing sugar layer.
Top with the remaining crumbs.
Chill in the refrigerator for several hours. Slice and serve. Store leftovers for several days in refrigerator.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
My Prediction – Self-Driving Cars
In 1983 I was living and working in a small, rural Special Areas community 90 kilometers north of Brooks, Alberta and 90 kilometers south of Hanna. Both towns are tied together by Highway 36.
I lived in the Special Areas on and off over the years. As a kid I’d worked on a ranch at nearby Finnegan. Years later I worked for the Department of Highways on the construction of Highway 36 from Emerson Bridge to the Pollockville corner. At that time, I lived in Pollockville.
The Special Areas are mostly barren, bald prairie – a vastness and openness that is romantic to some and causes melancholia in others. For me the prairie is romantic, except when driving. Then the prairie becomes an endless, boring, monotonous experience.
The long drive to either Brooks or Hanna was beyond boring. Highway 36 is straight, except for one curve, driving south to Brooks. The more scenic drive north to Hanna has two curves and the odd clump of
Richard Dowson, Moose Jaw
buck-brush.
After numerus drives to Brooks, I had a revelation – self-driving cars. Remember; this was 1983 - long before smart-phones. In fact, the year before our local ‘Mutual Barbed-wire Telephone Company’ was sold to Alberta Government Telephone, which later became Telus.
I shared my revelation with my Grade Twelve Social Studies class. “Someday.” I said, “Someone will invent a self-driving car. I’ll be the first to buy one. I’ll drive out to Highway 36, turn south and have the car drive me to Brooks. And while the self-driving car is taking me to town, I will read the newspaper!”
The class had a good laugh at that. “Yeh Mr. Dowson. And some day pigs will fly.”
My revelation has come true – well, almost. There are self-driving cars, but it is almost impossible to find a newspaper but lucky for us we have one here in Moose Jaw!
Photo: The Prairie South of Cessford, Alberta on Secondary Highway 876
There wasn’t a sacrifice of fried chicken in the dugout nor incantations over their bats like in the movie Major League but for the Moose Jaw 18U AA Canucks the baseball gods were solidly behind them as they defeated the Regina Wolfpack 13 - 2 in a sixth inning mercy rule victory on Tuesday evening, May 19.
It was a night where the Canucks seemed unable to do any wrong. Even if they lucked out the bounces went their way.
The win is a big one for the young Canucks team as they gathered their first win of the season. Presently the Canucks sport a 1 - 7 record.
The win is big news for the 18U AA Canucks as they finally get the losing monkey off of their back head coach Curtis Novak said.
Tuesday evening’s game is the best performance for the team so far this sea-
18U AA Canucks Pull Off First Win
By Robert Thomas
son after “a very, very slow start.”
“The boys have just been carrying on and we’ve been grinding away. We had a great game this was the best,” he said.
Novak said the coaches had asked the boys to just be confident and it shone through.
“I’m happy it was great to see the boys comes out laughing and smiling after this game. It was a great win for us.”
The Canucks next league game is on May 28th at 7 pm versus the Regina White Sox at Ross Wells Park
It was an atmosphere more reminiscent a mosh pit than a baseball game as the Moose Jaw 18U A Canucks Grey fell 18 - 17 to the league leading Weyburn Dodgers on Friday evening.
You had the music, the bravado and the bare chest beating of the little guy not backing down and refusing to be pushed around by the big guy.
It was a game where both teams took turns holding the lead.
The Canucks had managed to take the lead 17 - 16 in the bottom of the sixth and victory looked within reach but the Dodgers came back with two runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Moose Jaw managed to get its first two batters in scoring position but failed to collect any runs.
“That is a heartbreaker of a game,” said Canucks head coach Ethan La Rose.
He said he was proud of the team’s effort.
“That Weyburn team I’ll admit
they’ve been rolling through everybody. They have one tie with the other Weyburn team. And every other game has been a mercy rule. They’ve beat everyone handily and we made the most of it today,” La Rose said.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed we lost, but I couldn’t be more proud. Every single person got on base at least once tonight. We made their pitchers throw
over 200 pitches combined. You can’t be mad at that.”
“They did everything they could right to the bitter end,” he said.
Asked about holding a lead in the sixth inning only to lose it in the seventh he said it’s just the way baseball works.
“We lost by one run to the number one team in the league,” he said, adding “we’re a team of dogs and I’m excited to see what they can do.”
He described the team’s progress so far as “awesome”. The team won their first game of the season and then gone back and forth won one then lost one.
The team is a mixture of experience and talent.
“I have two guys on the team that never have played baseball a day in their lives they’re fitting right in. They’re stepping up to the challenge. We got a few days for him. I’ve got a couple years in and doing well,” he said.
The team needs polishing.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the year. I love this group. They’re a little bit rough around the edges, but they’re such competitors. They’re going to be one of the teams to watch in his league all year,” La Rose said.
A ground ball for a base hit - MJ Independent photo
A miss at first base turned from a sure out against the Canucks into…. MJ Independent photo
A Canucks base runner is safe at home as the Dodgers bat catcher failed to hold onto the ball - MJ Independent photo
A swing and a miss - MJ Independent photo
Thunder Creek rallies from brink of elimination to win Nationals gold
Facing elimination and trailing late in the deciding set, the Thunder Creek Volleyball Club (TCVC) 17U team found itself on the verge of seeing its season come to an early end.
Instead, the group delivered the biggest comeback of its year.
TCVC erased deficits of 10-5 and 13-9 in the third set of its semifinal at the May 15 to 17 Volleyball Canada National Championships in Calgary, rallying for a dramatic 15-13 win before carrying that momentum into a straight-set gold-medal victory over Alberta.
Coach Lorne Polupski said the semifinal rally still feels difficult to believe.
“I still can’t believe we won that semi-final. Down 10-5 and 13-9 against such a strong team … crazy comeback,” he said.
“One of the dads made reference to us being like The Bad News Bears,” he continued. “It was a team that everyone underestimated and somehow they pulled it off in the end. That is this group of girls. They never give up. I think a big part of that is the chemistry on this team
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
and the belief they have in each other.”
The finish capped a tournament run that began with a difficult opening day.
Thunder Creek opened Nationals with a 1-3 record after a tightly contested first day in which every match went the distance. Despite the results, Polupski said there was little concern among the coaching staff.
“I wasn’t disappointed with our start. We played really well and were up against tough competition,” he said. “(I think we were) maybe a little nervous to be at Nationals in a venue that had 250 teams playing. Our goal was to come back relaxed now that we’ve been there, and play a little better than the day before.”
Thunder Creek found its rhythm on day two, winning its first two matches before narrowly dropping another threeset battle in the finale. The effort still secured first place in its pool and a stronger playoff position entering elimination play.
After surviving yet another threeset battle in its opening playoff match, TCVC advanced to a semifinal show-
down against a talented Ontario squad with gold on the line.
Thunder Creek won the opening set 27-25 before Ontario answered with a 30-28 victory, setting up a deciding third set that appeared to be slipping away.
Players said there was never a sense of panic on the court.
“Our team knew what we needed to do to push past our mistakes, and we all pulled through as players and as a team,” said Paityn Dempster. “I think the support we had for each other played a huge part in (helping us) get out of our heads and just play volleyball.”
Isabella Flanagan said the team’s energy played a major role throughout the season.
“I feel like everyone has been great at lifting each other up,” she said. “Especially during the tough semifinal, we
were all just having fun and celebrating each other. The win was a result of that, and of our hard work fighting for every point.”
The momentum carried into the gold medal match, where Thunder Creek defeated Alberta in straight sets to complete a run that saw the team climb 19 spots from its original seeding.
“The chemistry on this team was incredible,” Polupski said. “They really love the game … and their joy is contagious.”
TCVC 17U roster: Annyssa Davis, Elizabeth Beckman, Hailey Roney, Hailey Venn, Harlow Ryba, Isabelle Yasinski, Isabella Flanagan, Jessie Koch, Katelyn Venne, Paityn Dempster, and Shyanne Greenwood-Gadd. Coaches included Lorne Polupski, Jillian Polupski, and Jay Smith.
Photo by: Thunder Creek Volleyball Club
U11 Mustangs Black Trot Then Gallop Against Swift Current
Swift Current - Saturday was a big day for the 11U Mustangs Black as they faced the Swift Current 11U Rampage Rowdy in a doubleheader.
As hard as they tried the Mustangs could only force a split with Rampage Rowdy.
In Game One the Mustangs lost 11 - 4.
In Game Two the Mustangs dominated winning 1 - 10.
Game One
Everyday Tees
By Robert Thomas
Swift Current dominated in the scoring department in the first period. They scored four goals in the period and the Mustangs were scoreless.
The Mustangs did not get on the scoreboard until 12:04 of the second period and Swift Current had already scored five goals.
Scoring for the Mustangs were Elijah Flanagan with two goals. Ethan Koski and Edison Schwab had a goal apiece for Moose Jaw.
by Zayden Becker.
The second period saw Swift Current score four goals and Moose Jaw scored three goals.
Swift Current outscored Moose Jaw in the third period 3 - 1.
Game Two
Game Two brought much brighter news to the Mustangs Black team.
Swift Current got their lone goal in the first period after Moose Jaw had already recorded four goals.
Boston Chelsberg opened the scoring for the Mustangs with assists by Gage Gusa and Ethan Koski.
The Mustangs’ Atlas Kittler would score his first goal of the season assisted
Atlas Kitler would score an unassisted marker for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs’ Tenley Hanson would score with an assist by Zayden Becker.
The final Mustang goal was by Logan Bruce.
The second period would see Ethan Koski, Elijah Flanagan and Boston Chelsberg for Moose Jaw.
Mason Thompson assisted by Tenley Hanson and Henry Arneson assisted by Boston Chelsberg rounded out the third period scoring for the Mustangs.
The Moose Jaw U17 Mustangs picked up a pair of wins 8 - 4 and 7 - 4 in Swift Current versus the Rampage.
The wins move the Mustangs to a perfect 8 - 0.
Game One
The first period was tied 1 - 1 with the Mustang’s Cooper Fulton scoring with 30 seconds left in the period.
The Rampage would score two more until Cooper Fulton scored his sec-
By Robert Thomas
ond goal assisted by Christopher Gagne.
Brett Bowerin would tie it for Moose Jaw. Assisted by Cooper Fulton.
Swift Current would score their fourth goal at which point the Mustangs scored five unanswered goals.
Cooper Fulton would get his hat
of the season. He is second in the league point standings.
Game Two
Moose Jaw got a two-goal jump on Swift Current in the first period.
Connor Hart-Livingston scored assisted by Jaxyn Houle and Christopher Gagne.
Brett Bowerin scored an unassisted marker to give Moose Jaw a 2 - 0 lead.
Moose Jaw would score four goals to go up 6 - 1.
Colin Peterson, Jaxyn Houle, Con-
nor Hart-Livingston and Giles Guse all added a marker for Moose Jaw.
Brett Bowerin would round out the scoring for Moose Jaw.
https://www.mjindependent.com/
Students bring Canadian history to life at Regional Heritage Fair
Students from six schools across southern Saskatchewan gathered at the Western Development Museum (WDM) on May 20 to showcase 40 projects during this year’s Regional Heritage Fair.
The event featured 49 students from Grades 4 to 8 representing Moose Jaw, Rouleau, Gravelbourg, Coronach and Mossbank.
“(This) heritage fair is one of our regional heritage fairs,” said Faith Boser, heritage fair co-ordinator with Heritage Saskatchewan. “We have one in Moose Jaw, one in Saskatoon, one in Humboldt, one in Regina, and then we have a virtual one as well.”
Boser said students explored topics tied to family history and personal interests. Projects were then judged on historical thinking, research, and presentation skills by volunteer judges from the WDM volunteer group, the provincial archives, and local retirees.
While waiting for judging sessions, students rotated through workshops led by the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society, the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and local Indigenous artist SadiRose Vaxvick.
Boser said the top seven projects will advance to the provincial heritage fair at Government House in Regina later this spring, while the top two may also qualify for a national online showcase hosted by Canada’s History.
“The program is not only meant
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
to be fun for the students, but also to help build foundational skills in critical thinking and assessing sources, which is really important in this day and age,”
Boser said. “Being able to assess sources and think critically about them is really important.”
Lane — Doukhobor Mennonites
Lane, a Grade 5 student from Sunningdale Elementary School, explored the history and traditions of Doukhobor Mennonites, including their immigration to Canada, farming practices, religion, and traditional foods.
Lane said the project gave him an opportunity to learn more about his family’s cultural heritage.
“My grandma’s Mennonite, so it was really interesting to learn more about my heritage and how it all comes together,” he said.
One detail that stood out to Lane was the group’s respect for animals.
“The Doukhobors didn’t want to force animals to do the work on the farms, so they let the animals roam free and did the work themselves,” he explained.
“He wrote three books, trapped lots of animals, and also helped take care of them.”
Audrey — Canadian Myths and Legends
Audrey, a Grade 7 student from Rouleau School, created a project examining Canadian myths and legends from several cultural traditions, including the Wendigo, Sedna, the flying canoe legend, and ghost ship stories from Canada’s coasts.
She said researching the topic allowed her to explore the lessons and values behind the stories.
“The Wendigo is about greed and gluttony,” Audrey said. “Sedna teaches people not to hurt others because it may come back to harm them in the future.”
Audrey said the research process also taught her the importance of verifying information through reliable sources and comparing multiple accounts.
“I learned to double check everything and look for reliable resources,” Audrey said. “You’re not narrow-minded (that way) — you’re more openminded to different ideas.”
The project also featured homemade Schöne Kuchen prepared using a recipe passed down from Lane’s grandmother, highlighting how family traditions continue to carry cultural heritage forward.
Parker — Grey Owl
Parker, a Grade 7 student from Mossbank, Sask., focused his project on conservationist and former trapper Grey Owl.
Parker said he was drawn to Grey Owl because of his family’s interest in trapping and hunting, noting his father previously sold furs and still traps recreationally.
“We trap and hunt a lot, so I was looking up cool trappers and mountain men, and he was one of the people who stood out to me,” he said.
His display included several animal pelts connected to trapping, including lynx, wolf, fox, fisher, beaver, otter, and pine marten.
Parker said he found it interesting how Grey Owl shifted from trapping to wildlife conservation while becoming an author.
She said the project also highlighted the importance of preserving oral traditions for future generations.
“I also learned to value these stories and keep them alive longer, otherwise you lose the lessons behind them,” Audrey said. “That way people can continue to understand the lessons behind them.”
exploring
and
Audrey’s display
Canadian myths and legends is showcased on May 20. The project examined the lessons
cultural teachings carried through oral traditions and folklore. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Lane stands with his project exploring the history and traditions of Doukhobor Mennonites during the event held at the Western Development Museum on May 20. His display also featured homemade Schöne Kuchen prepared using a family recipe passed down from his grandmother. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Parker stands with an animal pelt and traditional trap during the Regional Heritage Fair on May 20. His project explored the life of conservationist and former trapper Grey Owl and featured several pelts connected to his family’s trapping background near Mossbank. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Snowbirds will never be the same
After 55 years of thrilling the public with aerial flights and recruiting pilots for the RCAF, the Snowbirds will be gone at the end of this season.
Moose Jaw, indeed Canada, will miss them.
Moose Jaw thanks a legion of pilots and ground crew for their service over the years.
The aging CT-114 Tutor jet, first flown in 1963, will be retired. Only a handful of the original 191 aircraft remain.
A $30 million rehab this year to upgrade the planes wasn’t enough, according to the federal government. The possibility of structural damage and failure following decades of flying in high pressure situations was too risky for the pilots.
The reasons offered for retirement were rather vague.
The Tutor jets have become difficult to maintain with parts hard to come by.
The last two Prime Ministers were warned the Tutors need replacing. They did little.
Thus the Snowbirds era ended much to the disappointment of Moose Jaw and
OPINION EDITORIAL: TRADING THOUGHTS
By Ron WalterFor Moose Jaw Express
flying fans around the globe.The Tutors have thrilled over 140 million people. The Snowbirds are a national icon, known all over just like the RCMP and the Maple Leaf.
The retirement of Tutors comes at a time when the RCAF is short of pilots and pilot trainees. The Snowbirds have been the best recruiting tool for the RCAF. Nearly all the pilots we have met first got the urge to fly as children when they saw the Snowbirds perform.
The situation doesn’t make sense.
Many observers feel the RCAF could be served with a smaller group of five or six Tutors instead of nine now used. But pilots would still be at risk.
The government promises to replace the Tutor with a Swiss-made turboprop. The turboprop won’t have the noise or the ability to do some high air demonstrations.
Most countries with an aerial demonstration team fly jets. Australia is one exception.
The cost of jets likely swayed the decision to turboprops.
The CT-157 Siskin plane will also be used as a trainer.
SNAPSHOT: Eyes on the skies
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
SNAPSHOT: Social media lit up across Saskatchewan on May 22 after photos and videos shared by residents near Bethune and Pense appeared to show a possible landspout tornado north of Moose Jaw. Earlier that day, Environment and Climate Change Canada had warned that atmospheric conditions across parts of southern Saskatchewan could support funnel clouds and isolated landspout tornadoes. Residents can monitor current weather watches and severe weather alerts through Environment and Climate Change Canada at Weather.gc.ca. Photo by: Laressa Dueck Marengere/Facebook
Unfortunately the replacements aren’t scheduled to be available until the early 2030s. Waiting another five years for a new team will create difficulties recruiting.
There is no guarantee the government will replace the Tutors, except for the minister’s promises. New priorities could emerge in that time frame.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
Prior to the May 19 announcement of the Tutors’ retirement local MP Fraser Tolmie hit the media with vocal comments about saving the Snowbirds. But it will never be the same.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
Saturday, July 18th 2026
Branch 59 Backyard Bash
693 Fairford Street West, Moose Jaw
Celebrating 100 Years of Service of The Royal Canadian Legion
9 - 11am Pancake Breakfast (Cost is by donation)
Families and children are welcome all day until 5:30 pm.
Food Vendors, 50/50, Silent Auction 7-11pm Entertainment Featuring
The Stray Do
We need VOLUNTEERS to make this happen. Please sign up at the Legion or call the o ce at 306-692-5453.
If anyone or organization would like to make a monetary donation to our event or a donation towards our silent auction. All individual & organization donors will be advertised as a sponsor. Any amount or item is greatly appreciated. They can call the o ce at 306-692-5453.
OPINION/COMMENTARY
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
Buy, Use, Toss, Repeat: Your Next Purchase Will Likely be a Mistake
My closets, storage locker, kitchen drawers, bookcases, car trunk and the nooks of my condo are an allegory for the adage “a fool and their money are soon parted.” Like many, I’m suffocating under a pile of objects that were meant to patch the structural cracks in my well-being but instead now serve as forensic evidence of a financial crime committed, ironically, against myself. My living space has become a museum of dead intentions—a gallery of promised “solutions” to problems I never actually had, purchased with money I should have kept.
Rewind back to the 1920s, and you’ll find the diagnostic moment that turned “needs” into “wants.” For the better part of a century, we’ve been methodically re-engineered from creatures of purpose into marketing-driven conduits. It’s been a slow-motion hijacking of the human spirit, a transition that’s left us as nothing more than biological wallets for an economy that demands a level of consumerism irresponsible to our financial health and the environment. Sometime in the mid-50s—I’m ballparking—we started to stop living and began processing inventory.
By the dawn of the 1920s, the Industrial Revolution had become a victim of its own efficiencies. Machines were producing furniture, clothes, and automobiles faster than people actually needed, leading corporate boardrooms to a panicked realization: Market Saturation. If a stove lasted twenty years, the factory was essentially building its own demise. In order to keep the chimneys smoking, business leaders realized they couldn’t just sell products; they had to rewire the human psyche and lobotomize the concept of ‘enough.’ They needed to figure out what psychological tricks they could use to shift people from buying based on actual need to buying based on desire.
If today’s consumerism has a
by Nick Kossovan
“Ground Zero,” it’s the work of Sigmund Freud’s nephew Edward Bernays, often called the Father of Public Relations. Bernays didn’t just invent public relations; he weaponized his uncle’s psychoanalytic theories to pioneer a form of psychic strip-mining. Before Bernays, ads were honest and dull, merely listing specs and prices. However, Bernays realized that by bypassing the conscious mind, the human ego could be treated like a ventriloquist’s dummy. By stopping to peddle products and instead harvesting insecurities, Bernays was able to successfully graft our social identity onto our possessions; thus, by poisoning the well of human contentment, he changed the concept of marketing.
In 1929, the American Tobacco Company hired Bernays to pry open an untapped market: women. Public smoking was a gendered taboo. Bernays didn’t market cigarettes’ taste; he marketed them as symbols of female empowerment and independence, which would become known as “torches of freedom.” Bernays proved that you could sell anything if you convinced the buyer that it would make them the person they wanted to be.
Post-World War II, the Western world was sitting on a mountain of war-surplus infrastructure and a tide of returning soldiers seeking jobs. To dodge a sequel to the Great Depression, the powers that be didn’t rebuild the old world; they built the “Consumer Republic,” a socio-economic bait-andswitch selling the Greatest Generation on the belief it was their patriotic duty to shop. The battlefields were traded for shopping malls; the collective psyche became convinced that the only way to save democracy was to be consumers of Tupperware and tailfins.
In 1955, retail analyst Victor Lebow laid out, in the Journal of Retailing, with clinical precision, the blueprint
for a strategic strike against our wallet:
“Our enormously productive economy... demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption.”
“Planned Obsolescence,” the deliberate design of products to wear out or become “out of style” quickly, was pioneered by General Motors with their annual model changes. It’s a strategy to keep consumers on a Ponzi schemelike buying treadmill. Since nothing stays functional—or fashionable—for long, our relationship with “stuff” has shifted from the utilitarian to the existential. We aren’t just buying what we need; we’re buying attempts at purchasing a version of ourselves that remains perpetually out of reach. Marketing propaganda has convinced us that our current selves are inadequate, that we’re “beta” versions in need of a constant software update.
The Marketing Mirage Everyone wants to be who they’re not.
Think of how effortlessly we internalise the consumerist directive of the “aspirational purchase.” Marketers have sold us the delusion that identity is something you can add to a shopping cart. Marketing, and its byproduct “advertising,” passes for a vicious funhouse mirror; not reflecting our respective realities, instead teasing us with high-definition “potentials” of what we could be if we own and use the right product. You aren’t merely buying high-altitude technical gear; you’re renting a rugged, frontiersman persona, buying the costume of a person who actually possesses the freedom to disappear into the wild, while you perform the theatre of productivity inside a fluorescent-lit cubicle, having filed for spiritual bankruptcy years ago.
We are witnessing the total collapse of the “Middle Distance.” A few generations ago, acquiring a significant object—a sturdy wool coat, a mahogany writing desk, an automobile—was a destination. The purchasing transaction was closing a door. Today, the retail abyss, and certainly the digital strip malls, have vaporized the vital, human pause between desire and delivery. We’ve been conditioned into a state of pre-emptive nostalgia, where the dopamine hit of checking out an item or the “Add to Cart” button is incinerated by the shadow of the next upgrade. The Middle Distance—that period of anticipation, while scrimping and saving, followed by years of grateful utility—has been compressed into a frantic, high-frequency loop of consumption. We no longer own our things; we merely host them on their way to the landfill, while sprinting on a gold-plated hamster wheel that marketers make certain never comes to a full stop.
The Financial and Environmental Crime
The environmental toll of this “Buy, Use, Toss, Repeat” cycle isn’t just staggering—it’s an ecological insolvency. Look at the ultra-fast fashion behemoths like Shein and Temu. By 2024, these giants were hemorrhaging nearly a million packages a day into North America, bypassing traditional retail channels to flood our borders with low-grade rags designed to survive three to five wears before being interred in a landfill. Every time a credit card is swiped, the person is financing a landfill.
Furthermore, our outsourcing of conscience, a delusional attempt to ease the guilt of a lifestyle that’s causing irreversible environmental wreckage, has reached a fever pitch. We buy the “eco-friendly” bamboo alter-
Continued on next page
Buy, Use, Toss, Repeat: Your Next Purchase Will Likely be a Mistake, continued
native, willfully ignoring that it was hauled halfway across the globe on a diesel-belching freighter. This “ethical consumerism” is nothing more than a brand-led corporate hoodwink, a sedative designed to keep us feeling virtuous while we maintain the same ruinous levels of consumption. We’re rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, only the chairs are made of recycled ocean plastic, cost 250 dollars apiece, and come with a “carbon-neutral” sticker that’s about as factually grounded as a “low-calorie” sticker on a bucket of lard.
The Psychology of the “Latest and Greatest”
Why do we do this? Why do we keep falling for the “new and improved” trap? The psychological tether is deeper than mere vanity. Dr. Bruce Hood, a professor of developmental
psychology and author of The Self Illusion: How the Social Brain Creates Identity, noted in a 2024 interview that our drive to consume is often a misguided attempt at social signaling and self-stabilization.
“We don’t buy things because we need them; we buy them because of what they say about our status and our belonging. In an increasingly fragmented world, the ‘latest and greatest’ serves as a temporary tether to a community we feel we’re losing. We’re trying to purchase a sense of security in an insecure economy.”
We’re harvesting objects for social capital and have made it acceptable to make bad financial decisions. We don’t experience our possessions; we curate them. We’re buying the artisanal sourdough starter kit not to bake, but to belong to the class of people who
do bake. We’re consuming the idea of a life, rather than life itself. Think of how many businesses would cease to exist if everyone got up tomorrow morning and decided they were happy the way they were.
The Radical Act of Refusal
There is a profound “Void of the After-Purchase”—the psychological comedown when you realize that the new gadget or the “life-changing” skincare routine has failed to fill the hole it promised to address. Consumerism has evolved into a secular religion, complete with its high-gloss cathedrals of malls and flagship stores and performative rituals of “unboxing.”
However, it’s a religion without a sabbath; there’s no rest, only the relentless grind of earning money to purchase the next “new and improved.” We’re bowing before an altar of planned obsoles-
cence, while clutching to our receipts as proof that we’re looking for salvation, which never arrives.
To stare at our cluttered lives and overflowing storage units is to realize that “enough” isn’t a number or a minimalist aesthetic you can buy at Ikea. In a world engineered by marketingdriven hunger, being satisfied is a radical act of refusal. Your next purchase won’t make you smarter, faster, or more loved; it’ll simply be more evidence of the ongoing financial crime you’re committing against yourself and your participation in the gutting of the planet for a dopamine hit.
Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan.
Group promoting Saskatchewan’s independence from Canada holding event in Moose Jaw
A group promoting the idea of Saskatchewan separating from Canada is coming to Moose Jaw to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of remaining within confederation and of becoming a self-governing, free and independent nation.
The Saskatchewan Prosperity Project (SPP) is holding a free town hall event at the Timothy Eaton Centre on Sunday, May 31, with the doors opening at noon and the event commencing at 1 p.m. The main question the organization will discuss is what an independent Saskatchewan would look like.
“SPP is an educational, non-governmental, non-partisan registered nonprofit corporation,” the event poster says. “We are NOT a political party. We do not support or endorse any political party. WE DO NOT promote becoming a state of the USA.”
Saskatchewan independence is rooted in unity and shared responsibility, ensuring that every family, farmer, business and First Nations community has a fair and meaningful voice in shaping the province’s future, the SPP’s website says.
Independence represents freedom
Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express
The logo for the Saskatchewan Prosperity Project, an organization dedicated to promoting the idea of Saskatchewan separating from Canada. Photo courtesy Facebook
from political and economic persecution, protecting the rights of individuals, communities and enterprises to operate and prosper without undue interference, the site continues.
At its town halls, SPP provides educational information that compares the benefits of remaining within the Canadi-
an federation to the benefits of becoming a self-governing, free and independent nation. Each event ends with a questionand-answer session.
“The SPP is committed to helping the people of Saskatchewan shape their own destiny by fostering prosperity, freedom, and opportunity for future generations,” the organization says.
“We believe that sound, practical policy is the foundation of lasting prosperity. Through thoughtful exploration and open dialogue, the project examines realistic pathways toward greater selfdetermination for Saskatchewan.”
The SPP says its mission and vision are to empower Saskatchewan to pursue prosperity, self-determination and sovereignty through education, policy advocacy and public mobilization.
Furthermore, the Saskatchewan Prosperity Project aims to be an educational initiative focused on garnering support for a future where Saskatchewan and its people determine its destiny, ensuring prosperity and freedom for future generations.
“The Saskatchewan Prosperity Project strives to bolster Saskatchewan’s
prosperity, self-determination and independence,” the group says. “We believe sound policy is the bedrock of prosperity, and we advocate for the need to explore avenues for greater sovereignty within or outside the Canadian federation.”
The SPP says on its website that if Saskatchewan separates from Canada, the province should become a constitutional republic, where democracy is protected, kleptocracy is minimized and bureaucracy is made accountable.
“Put simply, the SPP is proposing Saskatchewan become a constitutional republic because a republic is the safest, freest, strongest, and best way to protect the Saskatchewan people’s rights, freedoms, dignities, and home,” the website says.
The organization added that it, with the help of legal scholars, economists, professors and other experts, is looking at the proposed constitution for Alberta if it separates and is considering how to adapt it for Saskatchewan.
For more information, visit skprosperityproject.ca.
Central Butte travel club visits Vimy Ridge
The Central Butte Travel Club recently returned from traveling to the NW Europe where our tour began in the Netherlands. Just north of Amsterdam we visited the Zaanse Schaans, a heritage village with windmills, museums, wooden houses, handicraft shops and industries demonstrating cheese making, carving wooden shoes, casting pewter, weaving and more.
We walked through the Van Gogh Museum which houses the world’s largest collection of his paintings, drawings and letters alongsidesome works by his contemporaries. His most well-known painting – Sunflowers, is on display as well as many self portraits.
A visit to the Anne Frank museum was a somber experience, seeing photos and the annex where the family hid till they were betrayed.
You cannot be in Amsterdam without a Canal cruise which was enjoyed by all, especially the quirky commentary by our “Captain”. A day out of the city took us to The Hague which is the Seat of the Government, home of the Royal Family and the base for the United Nations. We spent some time at Madurodam – an outdoor miniature display of famous Dutch landmarks. On our way back to Amsterdam, we were able to enjoy the floral displays at the Keukenhof Gardens.
Our next stop was Brussels in Belgium where we toured the Atomium – a modernist building constructed for 1958 World’s Fair. Ypres (Ieper) is the unofficial capital of Flanders Fields where
Submitted
Group Photo at Vimy Ridge Monument - Left to right: Front row: students JJ Martel, Logan Canfield, Evan Stewart, Evan Tucker, Carter Stewart, Connor Mackow, Tiernan Whitehorn, Lance Dean, Ryan Cross, Bree Sangster, Jordyn Hallborg, Emma Canfield, Colter Stewart, Pistal Marks/2nd row: Jennifer Berger, Chantel Stewart, Michelle Tucker, Bobie Dean, Kendra Stewart, Deanna Hallborg, Bobbie Sangster, Lori Mackow, Vicki Gavel/3rd row: Thelma Caldwell, Teresa Bergen, Theresa Curry, Susan Curry, Kathy Newton, David Newton/4th row: Lynn Hubbs, Kurt Pfeifer, Holly Pfeifer, Marilyn Newton, Angie Kurz/Back row: George Peters, Linda Peters, Lynette Clavelle, Bonita Tucker
numerous battles were fought during WWI. From here we were able to travel to Vimy Ridge. This towering monument is Inscribed with the names and ranks of the 11,285 missing Canadians who died in France during the Great War. This memorial park, the legacy of an agreement between France and Canada, honours those soldiers and ensures that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
We later enjoyed a nice lunch and learned about the art of cheese-making near the Belgian village of Passchendaele. Some of us played with the musical
milk cans.
As our Ypres hotel was near the Market Square, a short walk took us to the Flanders Fields Museum. We later attended the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. This is every night where the traditional final salute of the fallen is played by buglers, commemorating those who paid the supreme sacrifice in WW1. Two of our students had the honor of placing a wreath during the ceremony.
Onto Caen, Normandy, where William the Conqueror planned his invasion of England in 1060. A half-hour drive took us to the Juno Beach Centre. The guided tour of Juno Park and the remains of the Atlantic Wall, which is led by one of the young Canadian guides includes a visit inside two bunkers opposite the museum.
Along the coastline is Mont Saint Michel, an UNESCO historical island where the abbey is perched on the very top.
King Louis XIV commissioned the building of the Palace of Versailles in the 17th century. Now a museum it holds over 60,000 works of art in the numerous apartments. It is surrounded by decorative gardens which extend to an 800-hectare park.
Paris is the capital and largest city in France. After a panoramic tour of the city, we had a guided visit to the Lou-
vre and explored a small part of its vast collection. Some of the more famous artwork was of course, the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory. An exciting time was checking out the views from the Eiffel Tower which was built in 1889 for the World’s Fair.
Les Invalides complex houses military museums, a retirement home, monumental churches and a hospital for veterans. Napolean Bonaparte is buried in a tomb beneath the golden dome. Not far away is the Rodin Museum with replicas of his work in the surrounding gardens and the original sculptures inside. Familiar pieces of his art are The Thinker, and The Kiss.
Our last day was free time where you could go as you please. The students and parents headed to Disneyland Paris for a fun time. A few chose to visit the Pere Lachaise Cemetery where some notable people are buried like Jean Moulin, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and many more. Others rode the Hop on/ Hop off boat cruise stopping to see some of the sites like Notre Dame, D’Orsay Museum, Jardin des Plantes, or the Pantheon. And if you still had energy, there were many souvenir shops. Our “Bulldog” mascot came with us on every excursion. I think the Moms had the most fun trying to get him in that perfect shot.
On the final day as we prepared to head home, we were glad that we saw some momentous sites, collected fond memories, took hundreds of photos, and made wonderful new friends.
Ceremony at Mennen Gate in Ypres - students Lance Dean and Colter Stewart laid a wreath on behalf of the group
Windmills of Zaanse Schans
Central Butte Travel Club “Bulldog” mascot at Mont St Michel
Festival of Dance marks milestone 65th year with strong turnout, scholarships
Hundreds of dancers gathered last week as the Moose Jaw Festival of Dance celebrated 65 years with five days of performances, awards, and scholarship presentations at A.E. Peacock Collegiate.
Organized by Dance Inspirations, the event welcomed participants from across Saskatchewan and Alberta featuring ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theatre performances from May 6 to 10.
Festival president Krysta Field said the milestone event drew strong support from returning families, alumni, and the broader dance community.
“People were really excited about the 65th annual event, and there were more than 400 participants … along with their families visiting Moose Jaw, so it was a good weekend for bringing a lot of people into the city,” Field said. “There were people who had previously been part of the festival, and now their kids are dancing in it, and grandparents are coming back.”
Field said enthusiasm remained high, with organizers selling out of anniversary merchandise.
“We actually sold out of all the merchandise we had printed for the 65th annual event, and it was really nice to see everyone wearing the logo we created for the anniversary,” she said.
Dance Challenge highlights
The festival concluded May 10 with Dance Challenge 2026 at the Peacock Centennial Auditorium, where top-scoring junior and senior group performances from throughout the week returned to compete for additional honours and cash prizes sponsored by End of the Roll Flooring Centre.
Final results included:
• Junior Dance Challenge
• First place: “LDNT” — Rise Dance Company
• Second place: “Statuesque” — Doris Sitter School of Dance
• Third place: “Good Vibes” — Sitter School of Dance
• Senior Dance Challenge
• First place: “Blue Monday” — Rise Dance Company
• Second place: “Funky Town” — Joy’s Dance Factory
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
• Third place: “Smooth Criminal” — Doris Sitter School of Dance Scholarships, special awards
The festival distributed more than $50,000 in scholarships, bursaries, and awards, continuing its long-standing focus on supporting dance education and reducing financial barriers for participants.
Major award winners included:
• Cooper Loshack, Rise Dance Company — Doris Sitter Memorial Award and Channing Bowes Rhythm Award
• Bailey Mardell, Rise Dance Company — Joyce Hagan Memorial Award and Barb Jackman Rhythm Within Award
• Axelle Lorenz, Joy’s Dance Factory — Blake Krauss Passion for Performance Memorial Award
• Rise Dance Company’s “Blue Monday” — Helen Tait Memorial Trophy for the festival’s highest overall
mark
Field said dancers and instructors responded positively to the festival.
dance while sharing cultural teachings with dancers and families.
Field also highlighted the role of three adjudicators from across Canada, who provided workshops and feedback sessions following each performance block.
“They really enjoyed their time in Moose Jaw and working with the dancers,” she noted.
Behind the scenes, the festival relied on hundreds of volunteer shifts and a 19-member committee that works year-round to organize the event.
“Our event truly wouldn’t be possible without volunteers,” Field said.
The Festival of Dance traces its roots back to 1959 and remains one of the city’s longest-running arts events.
Dance Inspirations is currently seeking additional committee members ahead of next year’s festival and will host its annual general meeting Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce. Further details are expected closer to the date.
“A lot of them say it’s their favourite event to attend,” she said. “They say the atmosphere is really positive, well organized, and well run, and I would say after 65 years we’re a well-oiled machine.”
She attributed part of the festival’s continued success to its consistency over the decades.
“We honour the traditions of the past and don’t make a lot of changes year over year,” she said. “I think that nostalgia and old-time festival feeling still remains part of our event.”
Community support
One featured moment came during the opening of the Dance Challenge, when Indigenous hoop dancer Lawrence Roy performed a traditional 30-hoop
For more information, including a full list of award winners, visit DanceInspirations.ca.
Rylee was among more than 400 dancers from Saskatchewan and Alberta who participated in the 65th annual Moose Jaw Festival of Dance at A.E. Peacock Collegiate earlier this month. Photo by: Silver Swan Photography
Members of the Moose Jaw Festival of Dance organizing committee gather during the festival’s 65th anniversary event at A.E. Peacock Collegiate earlier this month. Krysta Field said hundreds of volunteer shifts and year-round planning efforts helped support this year’s festival. Photo by: Dance Inspirations - Moose Jaw Festival of Dance/Facebook
If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork.
56. False god
57. Feeling your pain
63. Classify
21. Mantelpiece
25. Centers
26. Pack down
Need a little help? The hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle. Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use the answers page if you really get stuck.
17. Enlist
18. Scarce
19. Follow
20. Ownership
22. Erratum
23. Fired a projectile
24. Selected
26. After-bath powder
30. East northeast
31. A low monotonous tone
32. Dwarf buffalo
33. Anagram of “Slid”
35. Show embarrassment
39. Large powerful dog
41. Perfume
43. Beg
44. Mongol dwelling
46. Asterisk
47. Urine
64. Competed
65. Shad
66. Celtic language
67. Sea eagle
68. Refine
69. Marsh plant
70. Trawling equipment
71. Twisty turns DOWN
1. Stair
2. Drunkard
3. Hearing organs
4. Cupid’s Greek counterpart
5. Fables
6. Embody
7. Expected
8. Adopted son of Claudius
9. Ditch
10. Limitless
27. Nitpicky to a fault
28. Fail to win
29. Slung
34. Woos by singing
36. “Do ____ others”
37. Sign of healing
38. Not his
40. Notion
42. Brown ermine
45. Unexpended
48. One more than ten
51. Cheapskate
52. Love intensely
53. Scandinavian
55. Stage
58. Bog
59. Shade trees
60. Foot digits
61. Small island
62. Felines
205 WANTED
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Offering pet cleaning services. I
basket, under seat storage, and bag hook. BRAND NEW $3995.00. Call 306-694-1322 for more information.
FOR SALE - PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR Great for Travelling. Comes with Two Batteries and an Adapter to Plug into a Car Lighter. New $3000.00. Asking $1800.00. Call Karen (306) 6314745.
MOBIL
ITY SCOOTER Low Mileage/Hours
$1200.00. Call Karen (306) 631-4745.
200 LOST & FOUND
Large green umbrella with wooden pole blew out of yard in windstorm on May 11th. In the area of the 600 block of Duffield. Please call 306-693-1877.
105 AUTOS
2017 Hyundai Accent - 5 door hatchback, air, tilt, automatic, 248,000 km, keyless entry, 2 sets of tires. $4500 OBO, trades considered. Call or text 306-6316688.
120 RV’S & MARINE
For Sale - 2016 Jayco camping trailer, 18 ft., mini fridge, stove, microwave, sleeps 2. $12,000 OBO Please call or text 306-6314907.
110 AUTO PARTS
Broda Elite Transport Chair (785) - Broda comfort, adjustable seat tilt and back recline with breathable full padding. Purchased in December 2025, condition like new. Asking $3600 Please call
180 LAWN & GARDEN
For Sale - Tomato plants. 10 varieties, all home grown in Moose Jaw. $4 for single plants. Please
FOR SALE - Tires, 8 truck tires, 2 almost new (90%) B.F. Goodrich. 4 LT 245 75R17 20,000 miles on rims. 2018 F250 Ford 8 bolt rims. 4 P235 75R17. Dyna Pro PB, good rubber. 6 bolt Ford 2010 F150 Rims. Please phone 306631-0839.
185 SPORTS
For Sale - One full set of ladies right-handed golf clubs. Bag is included. All clubs have had new grips, some only used 1 or 2 years. I also have extra clubs - chipper, driving iron, extra large driver. Covers for everything. Please call 306-692-0610 Have to see to believe!
ELIZABETH “BETTY” WILSON
September 7th, 1949 – May 14th, 2026
Elizabeth “Betty” Shirley Anne Wilson, aged 76 years of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, passed away on Thursday, May 14th, 2026. Betty was a longtime resident of Valley View Center and resided there until it closed. She then spent her final years with Karis Disability Services. We would like to thank the staff for the wonderful care that they gave to our sister.
A Celebration of Betty’s Life will be held on Friday, May 29th, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 185 Woodlily Drive in Moose Jaw. Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Shirese Noble Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome.com
LYNN JERROD
Funeral for Lynn Jerrod on Friday, June 5th, at 11:00am at W. J Jones & Son Funeral Chapel, 474 Hochelaga St W., Moose Jaw.
BUSSE
Robert Theodore Busse, aged 93 years, passed away on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 30th, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Masonic Temple, 1755 Main St N, Moose Jaw, SK. Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Shirese Noble Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome.com
Sad are the hearts that loved you, Silent are the tears that still fall. Living here without you, Is the hardest part of all.
Nothing else compared in how you showed you cared, We still treasure all those memories and all the love we shared. Those special years will not return when we were all together, But the love we hold within all our hearts, You will walk with us forever.
Forever Loved and Missed
by:
Mother – Helen
Daughter – Danielle (Jeremy) & family
Daughter – Jacie & family
Sister – Wendy (Wayne) & family
Nephews – Cody; Clay (Jesse) Jackson & Isabella; Jason (Samantha), Greg & Brandon
So honoured to serve our community.
Lew Young Funeral Director
Going ABOVE and BEYOND expectations is what sets us apart
Rev. Dr. John Kreutzwieser is a retired pastor from Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Moose Jaw, SK. He graduated with a doctorate degree in 2006 from the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Florida.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
Tomfoolery
Someone was engaging in a little tomfoolery at the golf course the other day. On a number of tee boxes there were nice looking tees scattered around, apparently left for those who wanted them. They looked solid and unbroken. However, when you tried to tee a ball on them, the ball would not stay steady. On each of those tees one of the little prongs or claws on the top was slightly damaged so that a ball would not stay on the tee. Sneaky tomfoolery.
Tomfoolery means playful or foolish behaviour. Tomfoolery is usually harmless pranks and goofy antics that are not overly serious.
Records from the 14th century indicate that Thome Fole was employed at Durham Abbey as the court jester. It is not clear as to whether Thome Fole was the actual name of the performer, or if Thome Fole was a generic nickname for jesters. Eventually the name
Thome Fole morphed into the title Tomfool in the 1600s to indicate any remarkably foolish performer. In the mid-18th century Tomfool evolved into an adjective tomfool to describe laughable performers. In the early 1800s tomfoolery was used as a term for any silly mischievous behaviour.
Similar to tomfoolery are buffoonery, clownery, monkeying, horseplay, and joking.
Buffoonery means the behaviour of a person who does silly things, usually to make other people laugh. Sometimes politicians use buffoonery to draw attention to a point they wish to bring to light. She always enjoyed the buffoonery of slapstick comedy.
Clownery implies the actions of a person who behaves ridiculously. It is often used as slang to call out absurd or embarrassing behaviour. His clownery wore thin with the rest of the class as they were always kept late to finish the lesson. Her father’s clownery at the birthday party kept the children laughing throughout the afternoon.
Monkeying suggests acting in a mischievous manner. It is usually combined with ‘around.’ He would rather monkey around than pay attention during the demonstration in the lab. She scolded the children for monkeying around while she was trying to clean up the rec room.
Horseplay infers rough or boisterous activities. The glass dish was broken when the father engaged in some horseplay with this daughter. The pool attendant was losing his patience with all the horseplay going on.
Joking means something done to provoke laughter or clarifying comments. He was always joking whenever they went out to someone’s home. She was only joking when she threatened to send the kids to summer camp for two months.
Some consider making funny faces and calling
Seeding Slow in our region
Seeding operations made progress in the week ended May 16 but remained behind the five year average.
Rain, snowfall and heavy melt have impeded seeding but all regions advanced. The east-central region lagged at 11 per cent complete.
Only 29 per cent of the crop was done, compared with 55 per cent five year average.
The southwest region was ahead with 55 per cent completed. The Assiniboia-GravelbougMankota area was 63 per cent complete, according to the Ministry of Agriculture weekly crop report.
The Central ButteHodgeville-Moose Jaw area was 37 per cent, still above average.
Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
Pulse crops are most advanced with 53 per cent of peas and 40 per cent of lentils in.
About half of durum was seeded with 22 per cent of spring wheat, 27 per cent of barley and 11 per cent of oats.
Canola was only 15 per cent seeded.
Topsoil moisture on cultivated land has improved across the province with 77 per cent adequate, one per cent surplus and only five per cent short.
In the southwest, topsoil moisture was 82 per cent adequate, two per cent surplus.
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH
others silly names as tomfoolery. Those who constantly engage in tomfoolery are often people who do not take themselves or anyone else seriously. Even if they look silly or foolish those who like to participate in tomfoolery enjoy making other people laugh.
The pie-in-the-face tomfoolery has been around since the early 1900s, thanks to the silent film era. The best way to achieve this prank is to discard real pies and use whipped cream or shaving cream on a tin plate.
Another trick of tomfoolery would be to place a piece of tape over a colleague’s mouse laser sensor for when they try to use their desktop computer.
The Tomfoolery Show (based on the writings of Edward Lear) was an animated show broadcast on the American TV network NBC in the early 1970s for one season. Each episode has a cooking lesson with a silly recipe. To make Baked Alaska you were directed to cut a map of the state of Alaska out of an atlas and place it in an oven. Needless to say, the show was a remarkable failure as the tomfoolery was not that funny.
When I was in grade school I remember a lot of tomfoolery taking place whenever the teacher would step out. I would imagine that type of tomfoolery is still prevalent today.
Columnist John Kreutzwieser loves to research words and writes this weekly Word Wisdom column for Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com. He has an interest in the usage, origin, and relevance of words for society today. Greek and Latin form the basis of many words, with ancient Hebrew shedding light on word usage.
John would like to know if anyone has a sincere interest in a relevant word that he could possibly research for an upcoming column. If so, please send your requests to wordwisdom2021@gmail.com . Words will be selected according to relevance and research criteria. We cannot confirm that all words will be used.
During the week most of the Moose Jaw region received between 30 and 40 millimetres of rain. An area from Avonlea to Belle Plaine got 10 to 20 millimetres. Pasture moisture in the southwest remained good with 14 per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate and 11 per cent short.
Hayland moisture was 14 per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate and 11 per cent short.
Please include the Moose Jaw Health Foundation in your estate plan to help your community for generations to come.
277 Iroquois St W Moose Jaw, SK Please contact us for more
Next Service: May 31st, 2026 10:30am Sue Franklyn
Moose Jaw Health Foundation
Diefenbaker Drive Moose Jaw, SK S6J 0C2 Phone (306)
UPCOMING EVENTS IN MOOSE JAW
If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: joan@moosejawexpress.com
Town n country Mall Events
Saturday May 30. 9am -12pm Rotary Shred Day Fundraiser in the Mall parking lot
Get Ready for Father’s Day Craft/Bake/Tradeshow on Saturday June 13. 10 to 4pm and Sunday June 14. 12pm to 4pm. Admission by Cash Donation
Saturday June 20. 1pm - 3pm Father’s Day Craft - Come make dad a free key chain
School’s Out Parking Lot Party on Saturday June 27. 11am to 3pm. Sensory Time 11:00 to 11:30
Kick off the summer with a day full of fun. FREE EVENTFace Painting, Crafts, Games, Bouncy Castle, Vendors, Cool Vehicles & Tractors.
SALAD LUNCHEON at Zion United Social Hall: Wednesday, June 3, from 11:30 am to 1 pm at 423 Main St. N. Purchase tickets (only 100 to be sold) at the office for $20. Salads, ham, bun, beverage & dessert will be offered. Inquiries can be made at 306-692-3842 or zionuc@sasktel.net
Lynbrook Ladies Wednesday Business Golf League Wednesday Night Ladies Business League is open to any ladies interested in joining. President – Shauna Inglis 306690-6974/Secretary – Bev Arnold 306-690-4240/Treasurer – Sharon McKenzie 306-631-9606.
July 8 – Fun Night Tournament -5:30 pm - Shotgun (sign up sheet will be posted prior week)
Aug-5– Fun Night Tournament- 5:30 pm - Shotgun (sign up sheet will be posted prior week)
Sept 9 – Year End Tournament – 5:00pm - Shotgun (sign up sheet will be posted prior week)
Sept 16 – Year End Banquet (cocktails 6:00 pm- supper 6:30 pm)
The Moose Jaw Camera Club - Rodney Braun, an awardwinning Winnipeg photographer with two books and multiple solo shows to his credit will be the key note speaker for the PRPA Photography Conference hosted by the MJCC June 12 and 13 at the WDM. The conference will draw photographers from across the prairie region and offer networking and photographic opportunities. For more information, or to register, please visit https://themoosejawcameraclub. com/2026-prpa-photographic-conference
Scottish Country Dancing has resumed at 7 pm on Thursdays @Timothy Eaton’s Centre, 510 Main St. N. No partner required. Ages 8 and up including grandparents. Contact: Val, 306-630-5790
White Heather Youth Pipe Band in Moose Jaw looking for new players ages eight and older. New players will have the opportunity to try out drum sticks on pads and practice chanters with the instructors and will be introduced to some of the children already members of the band. Contact Michelle Carline at <mcarline@hotmail.com>
The Prairie Hearts Quilters Guild is held 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 pm. At Zion church from Sept to May. The Moose Jaw Stamp Club has resumed meeting the second and fourth Wednesday nights of the month at 7:00pm at the Lindale School staff room. For information call 306693-5705.
Moose Jaw Parkinsons Support Group meet at 1:30 p.m. on the last Monday of the following months: February, March, April and May. Meetings are held at Hillcrest Apostolic Church, Moose Jaw. Call or text 306 756 2819
Moose Jaw Town N Country Square Dance Assoc. 2025-2026 Program on Monday nights from 7-9 pm at St. Margaret’s School, 449 5Th Ave NE. Dance in square with family and friends. For information contact Valerie Wright at 306.691.0579. Beginners, singles, or doubles welcome!
Nature Moose Jaw will hold their meetings on a once-amonth status to take place on the third Friday of each month Church of Our Lady Bingo takes place at the Church of Our Lady Community Centre, 566 Vaughan Street on Tuesday evenings. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Bingo begins at 7:00 p.m. Are you struggling with addictions? Do you know someone who is? Or do you want to learn more about overcoming addiction to help others? Pastor Cory Havanka and his wife
Brenda will be offering an in-person, small-group, course that will explore how to overcome addiction that is based on Biblical foundations. For questions - Call or text Cory at 306684-1464 or email firmfoundationministries.inc@gmail.com Firm Foundation Ministries provides other services as well: -Bible study - Monday evenings at 630 p.m/Prayer meetings - Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m/Pastoral counselling. Check Facebook or Instagram for updates on services, events, bible study notes and words from the Lord.
Nar-Anon Meetings every Monday 7—8pm (Moose Jaw NarAnon Family Group) is a twelve-step program for relatives and friends affected by someone else’s drug use and is in-person at Moose Jaw Alliance Church, 14 Neslia Place. Come in Main Doors – Meeting Rm 103. Your anonymity and what you say at meetings will be carefully guarded. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Weight Loss Support Group Meets at the Cosmo Senior Citizen’s Centre, 235 – 3rd Ave. N.E. The group meets every Wednesday morning.
Weigh ins are 8-8:45 am. Meeting to follow. . scale weighs up to 350 pounds. Join for friendship and support on your weight loss journey. For more information go to www.tops.org
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meetings every Wednesday evening too in the Alliance Church located at the corner of 9th Ave NE and Thatcher Dr. Use the West side entrance and you’ll find us down the hall in room 107. Weigh ins are 6:30-7 followed by a half hour meeting. Scale weighs up to 500lbs. Join us as we support each other on our weight loss journeys. Visit www.tops.org for more information.
The Moose Jaw Public Library is located at 461 Langdon Crescent and can be reached at MooseJawLibrary.ca, by calling 306-692-2787, or by emailing Ask@MJLibrary. ca. Check the library’s Facebook page for updates, as programs may be cancelled or rescheduled.
Movie Club
Movie Club meets twice monthly at 6 p.m. in the theatre for a film and short discussion.
Harold and Maude: Show date: Monday, May 25
Documentary Night features films that rarely hit theatres and runs the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the theatre.
Movie matinees will be screened for all ages in the theatre starting at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem: Show date: Saturday, May 30 (rated PG)
Children’s programming
LEGO Weekends: These are open for ages four and up during regular business hours on weekends. In this self-guided activity in the Children’s Department, children can have fun building wild LEGO creations that they’re invited to put on display.
Standalone events
Paper Moon Writing Collective: Paper Moon is a monthly gathering for writers, offering guided prompts, quiet writing time, and optional sharing in a supportive, judgment-free space on the first Tuesday of each month. To learn more, email PaperMoonWritingCollective@gmail.com
Come and Go Play: Enjoy a story, sensory activities, play, and meet new people in the Children’s Program Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays. The event is free.
Teen Lounge: Teens in Grades 7 to 12 are invited to drop in for the library’s Teen Lounge every Friday from 3 to 5:30 p.m., offering a relaxed space to hang out, play games, create art, or get a head start on homework. No registration is required.
Diverse City: Diverse City is a recurring program at the MJPL offering a welcoming, inclusive space for neurodiverse adults and individuals with disabilities to connect and participate in activities. For more information, call 306-692-2787 or email Youth@MJLibrary.ca.
Computer Basics with Shaun Nanan: Adults aged 55 and over are invited to build confidence with everyday technology through a free, six-week Introduction to Computer Literacy course at the library. Participants will learn practical skills such as email, video calls, and other online tools while connecting with fellow learners in a supportive environment. Sessions run Tuesdays as part of the Sask Seniors Connect Hub.
Bernie’s Beading Circle: Bernie’s Beading Circle is a biweekly gathering for Indigenous creators to work on projects in a welcoming space. The event takes place in the Reading Room and light refreshments will be provided. The next events will be on Wednesday, May 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Dad & Me: Through a partnership with Moose Jaw Family Services Inc., the library is inviting guests to make friendship bracelets on Sunday, May 31 in the Children’s Program Room. Guests are asked to register as a family and include each child who will be attending. The event is for ages five and up.
Youth programming
The Teen Anime+ Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to watch anime, read manga, draw, chat, and eat Asian snacks. Anyone ages 12 to 19 is welcome to attend in the theatre, and yes — cosplay is welcome.
Next Anime+ meeting: Featuring The Banished Court Magician on Wednesday, May 27
Teen Gamers
The Teen Gamers program provides an evening of video, card, and board games for youth ages 12 to 19. The program is held once a month in the Herb Taylor Room with snacks provided from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and no registration is required.
The Rook Room: The public library concluded its partnership with the Moose Jaw Chess Club, replacing it with a staff-led program called “The Rook Room.” The program is held in the Reading Room and is free for guests of all ages to attend on a drop-in basis.
Next Rook Room meeting: Saturday, May 30
French-language programs
L’heure du conte is a French-language program for ages five and under with their caregivers. The program is held in the Children’s Program Room starting at 10:30 a.m.
L’heure du conte: Saturday, May 30
The Moose Jaw Public Library is located at 461 Langdon
Crescent and can be reached at MooseJawLibrary.ca, by calling 306-692-2787, or by emailing Ask@MJLibrary.ca. Check the library’s Facebook page for updates, as programs may be cancelled or rescheduled.
Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 59 Moose Jaw, 693 Fairford St W. Contact: 306-692-5453
Facebook @ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION-Branch 59 Moose Jaw
MEAT DRAW & CHASE THE ACE - Saturday @ 3pmEveryone welcome TRIVIA – May 30th & June 20th @ 7pm
*SAVE THE DATE!! Saturday, July 18th – Branch 59 Backyard Bash – Celebrating 100 Years of Service –details to follow
**PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE @ 306-692-5453 IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BOOKING OUR FACILITY FOR A PRIVATE FUNCTION
Moose Jaw & District Seniors Assoc. Inc. Website –moosejawseniors.ca. For more information Call: 306694-4223 or Email: mjsenior@shaw.ca
The centre is now open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8am – 8pm and Tuesday, Friday 8am – 4pm Fitness Level & Indoor Walking Track open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday & Friday’s 8am4pm
Wood working area – Monday to Friday 8 am – 4 pm
Timothy Eaton Cafe open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Cinnamon Buns are on Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie day. Everyone is welcomed. Billiards open daily from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. as well as Monday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings from 4:30 – 8 p.m.
Visit: cosmoseniorcentre.com for monthly calendar and ongoing activities Coffee Shoppe open 10:00am - 3:00pm Tuesday 11:30am, Lunch $10 (pre-order by Mon. noon) Thursday - Pie $4.50 May 30 - Kelten Chyz and the Restless; Doors/Bar open: 6:30pm, Cabaret/Dance: 7:30pm $15/person Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or anaf252@sasktel.net
• Every Monday and Tuesday 1 – 6:30 pm
• Wednesday 12 – 6:30 pm/Smear starts at 12:30 pm
• Thursday 12 – 6:30 pm/Crib starts at 1:30 pm. Bring a friend or sign up for spare
• Friday 1 – 10:00 pm/Shuffleboard starts at 1 pm. Bring a friend and join in!/Pool and darts start at 7 pm.
• Saturday 1 – 6:30 pm/Drop in pool in afternoon. Meat draws start at 4:30 pm - 10 draws, 4 free draws, drink tickets, gift card, 50/50. Everyone Welcome! FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES #3395 EVERY THURSDAY: Ladies Auxiliary “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 5:30 pm, draws start at 6:00 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, “Chase the Ace”. Everyone welcome – non-members just make sure that you have “signed in” as a guest in order
to participate. EVERY SUNDAY: Aerie “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 2:30 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, Mystery Draw, “Chase the Ace”. Everyone welcome – non-members just make sure that you have “signed in” as a guest in order to participate.
MONDAY THRU SATURDAY – DROP IN POOL – 1:00 pm to 1:30 start time. Singles and Doubles. EVERY MONDAY EVENING – DROP IN CRIBBAGE –Registration 6:00 t 6:30 pm – play starts 7:00 pm – bring a partner - $2.00 each to play. September thru to April. EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING – DROP IN DARTS – Draw for Partners, Play starts at 7:00 pm - $2.00 per person. September thru to April.
EVERY THURSDAY EVENING – DROP IN SHUFFLEBOARD – Draw for Teams - Play starts at 7:00 pm - $2.00 per person. FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAY – Aerie meeting – 11:30 am FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY – Ladies Auxiliary meeting - 7:00 pm
SATURDAY, JUNE 27 - EAGLES LOT PARTY!!!! Bands, Dancing, Bar, Food….watch for upcoming posts for more details.
SUNDAY, JUNE 28 - EAGLES LOT FUN DAY …. Pancake Breakfast, Games…..watch for upcoming posts for more details.
Western Development Museum; 50 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw. For more information, visit the museum’s website at WDM.ca/Moose-Jaw. Call 306-693-5989 or email ajones@wdm.ca
The WDM will mark its 50th anniversary with a twoday celebration on June 26 and 27, featuring a daytime community event on June 26 followed by an evening program on June 27. Activities will run throughout the day Friday with the ticketed “Built in ’76” event taking place Saturday evening, highlighting the museum’s milestone with a 1970s-inspired experience.
Adopt-a-Bench program: The museum’s Adopt-a-Bench program is open, with a limited number of benches available at all four WDM locations: Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Saskatoon, and Yorkton. For a $3,500 donation, supporters can dedicate a bench for 10 years with a personalized plaque featuring a name or special message, subject to approval. Each gift includes a charitable tax receipt and recognition on donor walls at all WDM locations. Proceeds support the museum’s ongoing work to preserve and share Saskatchewan’s stories. For more information, contact Ajibike Ogele, the WDM’s fundraising specialist, at 1-306-934-1400 or by email at Fundraising@WDM.ca. Seek and Find
The museum regularly holds Seek and Find events to encourage interactive learning. The program includes an activity sheet and visitors are invited to search the galleries for clues on interpretive signs or display cases. Check the museum’s website for updates.
Gopher Seek and Find: Search the museum galleries for mischievous hidden gophers and record the artifact found at each location, with all completed forms entered for a chance to win a prize. This event runs until May 31. Courses and workshops
The museum offers seasonal educational courses that teach skills ranging from blacksmithing to steam traction engine operations, with certificates typically awarded upon completion.
Steam Traction Engine Operation course: Registration for new intakes is now closed.
K+S Short Line 101
To demonstrate the raw power of steam energy, the WDM showcases its fully operational K+S Potash Canada Short Line 101 steam train each summer, and guests can catch a ride on a working piece of Saskatchewan’s history. Operating since 1978, this is Saskatchewan’s only operational steam locomotive the Vulcan, with 10- to 15-minute trips around the site. Admission is $7 for individuals or $20 for families, with rides subject to weather, volunteers, and mechanical conditions.
Reminiscence Kits
The museum’s Reminiscence Kits are meant to bring generations together and ignite new friendships through the sharing of memories. These kits, containing everyday artifacts from the 1950s to the 1970s, can be rented by care homes and other organizations for two weeks at a cost of $75, with an additional $25 fee for a one-week extension. Visit WDM.ca/ Reminiscence to book a kit.
Teacher resources
Teachers can access a variety of resources, including information packages and field trip arrangements at the WDM. Visit WDM.ca/Moose-Jaw/Learn/For-Teachers for more information.
Educational programs: The WDM features several educational opportunities open for booking this school year, including dozens of in-person programs ideal for field trips, as well as virtual learning options. For more information, visit WDM.ca
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Room for optimism seen in Prairie agriculture
Major farmland owner says Canadian producers are in a good position as crop troubles plague other parts of the world
By Robert Arnason - The Western Producer
- May 19, 2026
High grain prices could be around the corner and may remain high for a while, says the owner of 250,000 acres of cropland in Western Canada.
Robert Andjelic is feeling bullish about Canadian agriculture because a global shortfall of wheat and other grains is a realistic possibility for 2026 and 2027.
Prices may spike, and Canadian farmers can take advantage of the opportunity.
“I’m not talking a 10 per cent (increase). Wheat and some (others) could double (in price),” Andjelic said recently.
“Wheat is going to surprise a lot of commodity brokers and producers as to how much it’s going to go up, potentially.”
Why It Matters
A shift toward hotter and drier weather around the globe, combined with fertilizer shortages in some countries, should increase demand for Canadian grain.
Andjelic is the owner and founder of Andjelic Land, which leases cropland to more that 250 producers, mostly in Saskatchewan.
He doesn’t specialize in market analysis and doesn’t watch the day-to-day moves in the commodity markets.
However, Andjelic closely follows events and trends that affect global agriculture.
Two items, the U.S.-Israel war with Iran and the possibility of a Super El Niño, are expected to limit grain production in 2026 and 2027, Andjelic said.
Because Canada has a domestic supply of fuel and fertilizer, and competitors such as Australia do not, Canadian grain
farmers have an edge right now.
“Canada, along with most likely … Russia, are best positioned to take advantage of what’s coming,” Andjelic said.
Super El Niño?
There’s a 90 to 96 per cent chance that an El Niño will develop this summer or autumn, says the NOAA Climate Prediction Centre in the United States.
The critical question is whether it develops into a strong or very strong “Super El Niño.”
An El Niño usually delivers warmer weather to agricultural regions of North America, including the Prairies and U.S. Midwest.
If it becomes very strong, Western Canada could see a repeat of 1997-98, a winter with minimal snowfall and mild temperatures.
Previous El Niños have disrupted crop production around the globe, including key exporters such as Australia.
It could be unrelated to El Niño, but farmers in the central U.S. Plains, are already suffering through a drought.
A lack of precipitation this winter and spring hammered the hard red winter wheat crop in Kansas and surrounding states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting the smallest winter wheat crop since 1966.
“The USDA’s numbers were not just supportive (for price), they were historically supportive,” Allison Thompson, a market analyst and owner of the Money Farm in Ada, Minnesota, said in AgWeek.
The winter wheat crop in northwest-
ern Kansas is about a month ahead of normal development, said Jeanne Falk-Jones, an extension agronomist with Kansas State University.
Growers are looking at fields with unusually short and thin stands of wheat. Many farmers are having conversations with their crop insurance agent, trying to decide if their wheat is worth harvesting in June, she added.
Looking beyond this spring and into the winter of 2026-27, an El Niño weather pattern is not helpful for the central U.S. Plains.
“That drought is not going to be solved in any short time in the near future,” Andjelic said.
Fertilizer scarcity
Countries in the Persian Gulf region produce about 30 to 35 percent of global urea exports. With the chaos in the Strait of Hormuz, Australia and other countries who rely on imports are coping with a shortage of nitrogen fertilizer.
Farmers are making hard decisions about what they grow and how much fertilizer they apply.
Market watchers such as Thompson are realizing that the threats to wheat supplies are much larger than the drought in the central U.S. Plains.
“They don’t have the fertilizer…. Especially in the Southern Hemisphere, we’re going to start hearing about that,” she said.
“Australia is looking at a big cut in acreage this next year to wheat.”
There is a chance that the U.S. and
Iran find a solution to the Strait of Hormuz stalemate, restoring shipments of urea and other products this summer.
However, global fertilizer supplies won’t snap back to normal.
Export terminals in the Persian Gulf could be damaged, and rebuilding such infrastructure doesn’t happen in a week, Andjelic said.
“This stuff isn’t like you going to the local Home Depot and picking up the parts,” he said.
“Some of those (terminals and production plants) won’t be coming on stream for years.”
Chicago and Kansas City wheat futures have gained US$1.50 per bushel since early February. Kansas futures, for new crop, have been creeping towards $7.50 per bu., the highest level in two years.
As a result, the forecasted El Niño and the fertilizer shortfall may already be priced into the market.
However, the risks to global grain production are bigger and broader and will stick around, Andjelic said.
Canadian farmers are in a relatively good situation for 2026 and 2027, he added.
“With Canada’s position for production and global limitations … I’m very optimistic right now.”
Terry Burrill is a precious metals buyer and President of TC Precious Metals Gold, Silver & Coin headquartered in Airdrie Alberta. Gold is reaching record high prices, and Silver remains very strong.
TC Precious Metals will be making its way through Western Canada. You can bring your gold, silver, coins and Canadian paper money to the venue each day. No appointment required.
TC Precious Metals has the unique advantage of dealing direct with a smelt. This allows us to cut out one or even two middlemen.
TC Precious Metals purchases gold and silver from the general public as well as other gold buyers, pawn shops, dentists, jewellers and jewellery makers.
Terry has extensive experience working with estate executors, widows and widowers in a respectful and caring manner.
decide to sell or not.
“If you decide to sell after hearing the quote, great, but it’s also about information” says Burrill. “A lot of times people just need to know a ballpark price of what items are worth. There is no obligation and we don’t pressure anyone into selling.” That’s what sets us apart from the Quebec buyers, and their claim to pay the highest prices.
Nearly half of the world’s annual gold harvest comes from recycled gold. Energy costs are about $500 to mine a new ounce of gold where recycled gold is about $10 per ounce. A result of this is gold and silver purchased at the shows and later smelted goes back into the market with a lower environmental impact.
TC Precious Metals analyzes your gold, silver, coins and paper money while you watch, with the process explained to you in detail. Coins with numismatic (collectable) value are set aside from those with a ‘melt’ value. Silver items such as jewelry and Sterling flatware are analyzed for hallmark identification. Items thought to contain gold will also be analyzed for hallmarks, and then confirmed using precise testing that is done while you watch. Then a cash offer is made, and you
Out-of-fashion jewellery, single earrings, broken chains, unloved jewelry, charm bracelets, dental gold, nuggets, fine gold and Sterling silver flatware sets are all accepted. Another valuable item is coins with silver content. Dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars from Canada and America can be sorted and the silver content determined in no time at all. People are encouraged to bring in any and all coins for assessment.
TC Precious Metals can assess and purchase Canadian and Dominion of Canada paper money.