STEVE WOLBECK Sales Mgr. JOHN COURSER Sales 403.783.4494 www.adamsgm.com SUSAN BELL Finance Mgr. Parts Dept. NOW OPEN Saturdays until Noon 2013 Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD LT AWD (#34331) Heated Cloth Interior, Remote Starter, Backup Camera, 18,000 kms $ 26,300 * *Plus fees and GST fees and GST DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF PONOKA Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014 Vol. 66, No. 7 403-783-3311 [email protected]www.ponokanews.com Ponoka & District Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year 2008 That’s a lot of deer: A total of nine deer were caught in this morning photo snacking on a front lawn Feb. 5 by resident Betty Lee. She took this picture with her iPhone as they watched on. Photo by Betty Lee
DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF PONOKAWednesday, Feb. 12, 2014 Vol. 66, No. 7 403-783-3311 [email protected] www.ponokanews.com
Ponoka & District
Chamber of Commerce
Small Business
of the Year
2008
That’s a lot of deer: A total of nine deer were caught in this morning photo snacking on a front lawn Feb. 5 by resident Betty Lee. She took this picture with her iPhone as they watched on. Photo by Betty Lee
Page 2 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
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Jim Lysons and Dennis Ecklund, with dog Tinker Bell, enjoy a walk Feb. 5 at the Calnash Ag Event Centre, during FCSS’s Winter Walk Day. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
An increase to water rates has some residents questioning whether the raise is justified.
The flat rate and service rate for water was increased by five per cent recently by town council as part of the interim budget while the North Red Deer River Water Services Com-mission — where the Town of Ponoka acquires its water — did not increase its rates charged to municipalities.
Acting CAO Betty Quinlan said that while the town will see some extra revenue, water and sewer usually op-erate at a profit. ”We’ve always had a profit component in the water.”
Selling water and sewer at a flat rate would mean the town would still have to account for $1.5 million of the $2.8 million operational budget, said Quinlan. Managing those costs is handled by operating at a profit and en-sures utilities can be serviced.
One question she received was over the flat rate increase and whether resi-dents and businesses should pay more when the Town of Ponoka does not.
Quinlan said the funds had been allocated in the capital budget and if councillors decided to drop the rates, which they can do when they pass the interim budget in April, then the money will need to be found from somewhere else. Or, “If we take it out of the bud-get, we’d have to cut.”
The profit component of the utili-ties allows the town to run capital projects each year, she added, and the money is transferred to the capital bud-get.
Administration has been in contact with the City of Lacombe and the Town of Blackfalds to determine how those municipalities deal with a situation such as this. Quinlan said Ponoka’s rates are slightly higher than Lacombe and slightly lower than Blackfalds.
Water fee profits benefit town’s capital budget
By Amelia Naismith
As Ponoka Elementary School gathers momentum toward moving into its new building for the next school year, staff and parent council members have decided a new play-ground is also in order.
“We just wanted to have some-thing for the other side of our new building,” said Lois Spate, principal.
No timeline or budget has been set and the project won’t be further discussed until March.
Mecca Glen has also started the long journey to replace every wooden structure of its current playground; the metal structures will remain.
“It’s just been something that’s been in the back of our minds for a couple years now,” said Al Libby,
Mecca Glen’s principal.Last year the school’s parent
council hired a consultant to inspect the wooden playground; rot, deep cracks and exposed bolts were dis-covered. “It’s just finally come down to ‘time’s up’,” said Libby.
While no definite timeline has been set, Libby expects construction of the new playground to begin no later than the fall of 2015.
The school is looking at a $75,000 budget and has been in contact with four playground construction compa-nies to see what they could get with that money.
“We’re going to have to do some fundraising . . . applying for grants,” said Libby. “It’s not going to be an easy task. We’re just exploring out options.”
Two Ponoka area schools look at new playgrounds
By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Seniors and residents were kept moving last Wednesday during a planned walk throughout town.
The Family and Community Support Servic-es event was held Feb. 5 at the Rimoka Housing Foundation’s Golden Leisure Lodge and the Cal-nash Ag Event Centre.
While Ponoka Elementary School postponed their day for warmer weather, one brave Grade 4 class at St. Augustine Catholic School took to the grounds for a brisk walk.
Organizer Kerry Robideau said the goal is get people moving during the cold, winter months. “In the middle of winter, everyone is just kind of sedentary.” She was with seniors at the Golden Leisure Lodge and found most residents enjoyed the chance to walk and socialize at the same time. Kristie Stretch, activity co-ordinator at the lodge said she is unsure how long the halls are, but some
residents will walk the halls to keep active. “We have some people that walk every day,”
said Stretch. “I think it’s awesome to get them up,” she
added.To keep in the spirit of the day, organizers
at the Calnash Ag Event Centre decided to open up the barn for walking. Participants were able to walk between each stall and enjoy a relatively mild temperature compared to outside.
“Some seniors requested it, and we thought, ‘Why not?’” said director Dale Olson.
“We thought it would be a good public ser-vice,” he added.
The barn is also equipped with a defibrillator should an emergency arise. In keeping with the spirit of Winter Walk Day, the barn at the ag event centre is open for walkers weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants are asked to sign a waiver and sign in so staff can know who is in the building.
The Golden Leisure Lodge had 24 participants walking 15 minutes each for a total 360 minutes of walking. At the barn, there were 23 participants walking a total of 700 minutes. That is 19 hours of walking logged at the lodge and the barn, but does not include the time St. Augustine Catholic School stu-dents walked.
Residents enjoy some exercise during cold winter day
Ponoka C.O.P. is recruiting members for 2014. Do you have what it takes to be a CITIZEN ON PATROL? If you do, then WE NEED YOU. This community minded volunteer group needs your help to build a safer community.
What does it take to be a C.O.P.?Desire for a safe communityDesire for crime preventionCommunity involvementTeam work
Our mission is to build a safer community through participation in community based crime prevention in cooperation with our local law enforcement agency.
Ponoka C.O.P. invites you and a friend to join us in the Ponoka Fire Hall classroom on Wed., Feb. 19, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. as we kick off our 2014 campaign. Please join us if you are interested. All members require a current criminal record check so bring some I.D. (free).
If you need more information call Doug Gill at 403-783-3233
PONOKA DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO
BE A C.O.P.?
PONOKA NEWS Page 3Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
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By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
A new board and president have been elected for the Ponoka Agricultural Society (PAS).
An organizational meeting was held re-cently and the society nominated Lauraine Weir for the position as president for one year. Past-president Sherry Gummow de-cided to step down from the position.
Weir is proud of Gummow’s efforts. “She did a great job for the ag society.”
While there are many plans for the future, Weir hopes to continue on with pro-grams they have been hosting, especially events at the Calnash Ag Event Centre. Equine sports such as team penning and cutting are popular with their members and help provide provincial grant money to the society, explained Weir.
“We want to make sure those things continue at the building,” she said.
The more events they host, the more they can take advantage of provincial grants. Weir says much of that grant money goes towards supporting the 4-H clubs and their leadership programs.
There are new executives on the board, too, that Weir is excited to see; Lorrie Jess, secretary, brings gardening experience to the table.
“Lorrie comes with a horticultural background from Olds College and a real love for gardening,” said Weir.
Trish Friis is familiar with the equine world. “She’s a barrel racer, so she comes with that knowledge.”
Dan Dixon can be found helping out in
many of the events the society hosts. “He’s a great person with a cattle hook working the chute,” says Weir.
Another new executive member is Dennis Ecklund. Weir feels he is a great addition to the team. “He’s just a kind of handy guy…He was looking for something to do to give back.”
Weir invited him to join the executive and Ecklund decided to take a stab at it.
The society also has three members on Ponoka Ag Event Centre Society board and Greg Bowie stepped down as a board member at PAS’s AGM to pursue his career. Society vice-president Linc Drynan was nominated to take over Bowie’s position.
“He’s been a person that’s logged con-siderable hours to the building (ag event centre),” explained Weir.
For the near future Weir said people can expect to see her board out in the com-munity seeking individual and business sponsorship, usually in the months of Janu-ary and February.
The society is also looking at hosting a women’s conference, which Weir says has not been done for many years. “We’ve had requests to do a women’s conference and we’re looking to do one in April this year.”
Expect to see two dates for the ag fair. The bench show is now called the Home Hobby and Horticultural Show, set for Aug. 22 and 23. A Ranch Rodeo is set for Sept. 6 and 7 and Weir said the board is considering adding a Gymkhana to the rodeo weekend. A Gymkhana is usually timed events for younger ages such as pole bending and goat tying.
“It seems to be making a come back,” said Weir.
The PAS board generally meets every second Tuesday of the month at the ag event centre and meetings are open to the public, said Weir.
Here is the new PAS board: • Lauraine Weir, president • Linc Drynan, vice-president• Cecilia Dykstra, treasurer• Lorrie Jess, secretary• Dan Dixon•Karen Douglass•Dennis Ecklund•Trish Friis•Sherry Gummow
New ag society president looks to the future
Lyle Lloyd William Norn
OCTOBER 5, 1946
- FEBRUARY 8, 2014
Lyle was born to the late Francis Sarah Norn and Francis Lloyd Norn, near Tofi eld, Ab. Lyle went to work with Alberta Transportation in 1965 as a
foreman for a road construction crew. That same year on a job just north of Ponoka, he met his future wife Lorna Mae Pugh. They were married on April 28,1967 and welcomed their fi rst child, Tammy on July 9. Their second child, Shane joined the family on September 12, 1970. After 25 years of service on Alberta’s highways, Lyle went to work driving truck for Corvette Pipeline Construction; a job that lasted 8 years. In 2001 he sought work closer to home, driving grader east of town for Ponoka County. This allowed him to be home every night and freed up his weekends to haul his granddaughter to rodeos or cheer on his favorite hockey playing grandsons, all who in his eyes could have gone on to play in the NHL. In 2009 he and Lorna built their dream home on their lake lot at Red Deer Lake.
Lyle passed peacefully, surrounded by family, on February 8, 2014, in a palliative care suite at the Ponoka Hospital & Care Centre after a struggle with COPD and CO2 retention. He is predeceased by his mother, father and step father Victor Stephanson and older sisters Doreen and Bunny. Lyle is survived by his loving and devoted wife Lorna; their dachshund George who held a special spot in Lyle’s heart; daughter Tammy and son-in-law Kevin Henkelman; and son Shane and daughter-in-law Nicole. “Pa” was very proud of his grandchildren Kaylee-Jo Henkelman (Kenton Fawcett), Levi Henkelman, Wyatt, Denver and Emett Norn. He is also survived by his sister Grace (Eugene Normand), brothers-in-law Bill Dunnington and Ken Bulat along with many extended family members.
At Lyle’s request a “happy hour” will be held Saturday, February 15 at 3 p.m at the Stagecoach Saloon, Ponoka Stampede Grounds.
The family would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Chan and the nursing staff at the Ponoka Hospital & Care Centre for their compassionate care given to Lyle while hospitalized. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to Palliative Care, Ponoka Hospital & Care Centre.
LSnnA
• Inger Laing• Ken Pohl• Verna Pohl
Lauraine Weir, new Ponoka Agricul-tural Society president
By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
A call of a dog sled team involved in a col-lision had the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit moving fast last week, for nothing.
The call came from a motorist Feb. 4 at 9 p.m. that a dog sled team was involved in a collision on Highway 2 near Wetaskiwin. The passing motorist believed it was a seri-ous incident and some
animals may need to be put down.
Two officers searched for the scene but could not find any collision. Eventually it was determined the owner of the dog sled team was giving their dogs a break from trav-elling. The animals were being transported in a regular vehicle and
were seen at a rest stop when the passing motorist called the highway patrol.
If you have information on any crime call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or Crime Stop-pers at 1-800-222-8477.
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This fall I had the privilege of having a brief visit to a place of my dreams, Yukon Territory. I have always been interested in the Klondike Gold Rush and my library includes some volumes of Robert Service’s poetry. On my “bucket list” is a climb over the infamous Chilcoot Pass or a raft trip down the Yu-kon River. I did make it to Whitehorse this fall and that was great. Recently I watched the mini-series “The Klondike” on TV and, though the story was some-what dark, it reminded me that human nature has within it the search for something beyond itself – in this case, quick riches. It drove men to extremes. If a man couldn’t get rich, it seemed he would die trying.
Along with that quest for gold, I am thinking about the Sochi Olympics that many of us are watching right now. It seems like sports get riskier and faster and more technical – and some may die trying in their pursuit also. And what is it for? Fame, fortune, pride, prestige, hon-or? What in life is really valuable?
We recently thought about that as
we rode down to Montana for our second funeral in six weeks. A dear friend of ours, our age, caught a bug that turned into a lung infection which eventually killed her. In some ways it seemed unfair. She was a good woman living a good life. She knew the Lord and loved helping people out. Her husband has been go-ing through the condolence cards and is finding out just how good his wife really was by all the people who loved her so much. We tend to look at her premature death and wonder if God
knew what He is doing – but not really, because we know that God is good – all the time. And we know that this world is not all there is – not by far. Jesus defeated the grave by His resurrection.
Right in the middle of the Bible, we have what we call the Books of Wis-dom, and Job offers us some help when it comes to finding answers to the hard things in life. Job should know some of that, because no one suffered like Job suf-fered. When everything was taken away from this man, he refused to curse God, but instead waited on Him for answers.
By chapter 28 in his book, we can tell he is on the right track. He sure didn’t get an answer from his wife. She just told him to curse God and die. (Suicide is never the answer.) His friends told him he was being judged for some unknown unrighteousness. (The everlasting guilt trip.) But Job wasn’t satisfied. He had come to realize that only God knew what was going on, and that God was willing to give him insight into this – but it would come His way and in His time.
Job talks about the quest we are all on for value and meaning in life. Most of the time we stay in our little box where we think we will find it through fame or fortune or education or some other fleet-ing thing. We can dig into the ground and find the wealth that is there, but die a pauper as far as true fulfilment is con-cerned. We can search high and low and die searching because we are not willing to turn to the One who Paul says in Acts 17:27 “…is not far from each one of us.”
That is because God has made him-self knowable and findable through His own Son, Jesus Christ. And finding God is really finding wisdom, which is real wealth.
Job’s conclusion was this: “The fear of the Lord- that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
Real wealth is wisdom
Pastor Tom Cnossen
Hobbema Fellowship Church
Member of the Ponoka Ministerial Association
By Amelia Naismith
In the name and memory of her son Cole, a local woman is continuing her mission of sew-ing baby blankets for families in need via Cole’s Blankets sewing bees.
Marcie Prediger, along with friends and fam-ily, hosted the fourth Cole’s Blankets bee on Feb. 9.
Since the first bee in 2011, more than 500 blankets have been made and donated to Red Deer Regional and Edmonton-based Louis Hole hospitals. Prediger says more than 100 blankets are made each bee.
In 2010, Prediger became pregnant with identical twins — Cole and Cade — however, at 27 weeks she lost Cole.
A blanket was made to mark Cole’s crema-tion and that was the original Cole’s blanket. It was during the next year that Cole’s Blankets became a project for Prediger and family. “We started because when we were pregnant with twins and lost one, we realized what a great need there is.”
“It’s healed me. You do it to make yourself feel better and to go through the grieving pro-cess,” she added.
Prediger’s sister has also lost two of her ba-bies and her cousin lost twins around the same time she lost Cole.
On Feb. 9, a simultaneous Cole’s Blankets bee was held in Saskatchewan by Prediger’s high school friend Nancy Phillips, who has also lost two babies. The blankets are to be donated to hospitals in Saskatoon and surrounding ar-eas. “She always wanted to come to mine, but just couldn’t because she lives so far away,” ex-plained Prediger.
“That’s my goal in all of this: to get blankets as far as I can go, as many as I can make,” she added.
Blankets made to ease sorrow
Debby Sheppard (left), Shelley Buss (center) and Wendy Sheppard (far right) all get down to business to help create close to 100 Cole’s Blan-kets on Feb. 9. Photo by Amelia Naismith
PONOKA NEWS Page 5Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Refl ections of PonokaRefl ections of Ponoka
Photo submitted
Michael Rainone Sr. and his wife Irene lived, worked, and raised their family here in Ponoka from 1948 to 1978, after which he retired and they moved to Victoria. Mike worked for close to 30 years at the Provincial Mental Hospital, serving on the Medical staff and in the Recreation Department, as well as being active in the community as a member of the Masonic Lodge as well as the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #66. Irene passed away in the 1980’s, after which Michael continued to volunteer for 20 years at the Royal B.C. Museum, and later married his present wife Jean. Mr. Rainone, who served in the British Army Medical Corp during the Second World War, just celebrated his 95th birthday with family and friends, where he was presented with a certificate from Prime Minister Harper as well as his 30 year membership pin from the Victoria Legion.
Whether we like it or not we have all bravely faced the ongoing wrath of this winter since early November, but despite the snow, the wind, and the cold, we have survived because we are hardy and proudly stubborn Canadians. Over the years, there have always been lots of tough win-ters, and this week in Reflections we will salute those large and de-termined pioneer families who, for decades, have faced Old man win-ter without all the ‘get warm quick’ amenities that are now only just a flick away in our day and age.
The winter of 1906-1907.From a copy of “The Ponoka
Story”, which was written by our district and town old-timers, it was vividly recalled that after their first big hailstorm on August 19, 1905 had completely wiped out the crops, the next two winters would be as dif-ferent as night and day. During the winter of 1905-06, the farmers were not able to take their sleighs out be-
cause there was very little snow, and all of the supplies were hauled by wagon.
In those early days, blizzards were not the dangerous storms that swept the open prairies, because our country had lots of brush and trees, and the trusty teams of horses, if giv-en their head could follow a trail and always arrive home safe. It was in the winter of 1906-07, just when many settlers were getting established and especially trying to start into cattle, that they would experience the worst winter on record. Every old timer had a story of this wicked winter, and this account was written by a young homesteader’s wife, Mrs. Charlie Shipley, who at the writing of the history book in 1971 had reached the age of 92 years.
She stressed that it was easy to remember that winter of 1906-07 because on November 2nd they received 10 inches of snow and it re-mained bitterly cold until December
In the 1930’s the Baumbach family is prepar-ing for another tough Alberta winter by putting up lots of wood.
Little Harry Garries, who was born in 1901, survived the tough early winters by snuggling up with his buffalo pelt blanket.
We also had cold winters in the old days
emember whenemember whenRR10th when they got a few days of warmer weather but no melt. With everyone using their cutters or bobsleighs the roads were well packed, and with the farmers having only the usual amount of feed, the stock, especially the horses could graze on the wild grass all winter. Many of the homesteaders had a contract with a rancher to take in ten cows with calf for three years, while Charlie Shipley had taken in fifteen of his own.
December 1906 turned very cold again, with Christmas day hitting 30 degrees below zero. January stayed below zero for the entire month, with more snow piling up on the roads, which re-mained packed hard. Feed became very scarse and high in price, and her husband had to haul a load of hay for 10 miles to hopefully last them until the spring. The Shipleys had a deep little coulee by their log barn where they bedded their cattle down, and during that winter Charlie had to get up at least once a night to check on the herd, of-ten having to build big fires close by to keep them warm. Most people managed to make it through, but many lost all their young calves and some of their cows. The snow was so deep at times that it covered the fences, and the roads were so packed that it was very hard to pass, and the snow was still around on May 1, 1907, when the Shipleys had to take the cutter into Lamberton for supplies. A neighbour, Mr. Cairns wrote....’there were many fights that winter, with some rigs tipping over into the ditch when they tried to pass on the road. A horse could walk up to a coyote because it had to jump up so high, and many of those pesky critters were killed with clubs.”
Frank Brewster also fondly remembered his father’s story of that memorable winter. “In the summer of 1906 my father put up hay with Mr. Story, who lived on the farm later occupied by Mr. Harrington. Story would cut the hay and my father would rake and stack it for a half share, which he used to feed the 50 head of steers that he agreed to winter for Mr. Beebe of Beebe Town, Iowa. He batched on the homestead and hauled his hay ev-ery day to the cattle, and it was so cold that the only reason that he didn’t freeze to death was be-cause he had a fur coat that was a couple of sizes to large for him, which he lived in all winter and
slept in it too.”Hugh Stevenson recalled that her husband told
of hauling hay from the West head place west of Mirror, which took all day to make the round trip, and if the two outfits met on the trail, the lighter one would pull off, then the other would help to turn them right side up and then pull them back on the track with both teams. There has been many varying reports of the depth of the snow that winter, but most stories put it at six feet on the level. It didn’t drift, but just piled snow on snow for months, with absolutely no breaks for melt-ing. The official record snowfall at Edmonton that winter was reported as 90.3 inches.
Here are a few more excerpts from a dairy about that horrific winter that appeared in the Ponoka Herald.
*October 14, 1906: The slough froze and we skated.
*November 3 and 4, 1906: snow fell for 31 hours and remained on the ground until May 24, 1907.
*The month of January 1907 averaged 27’1 degrees below zero, was warmest at noon and coldest at night.
*Hauled logs on Buffalo Lake on April 7, 1907.
So, for the rest of the winter, let’s turn up the furnace, dress warm, think spring, and try not to complain too much.
Page 6 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Opinion Opinion
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Is it political genius in terms of timing or naïve neglect on the part of media or a bit of both?
As Canada’s main broadcasters (and most print media) have been con-sumed by an enchanted frenzy over the Winter Olympics in Sochi over the last two weeks, Con-servatives have unrolled two pieces of draft federal legislation that might have far reach-ing implications for the future of the governance and the social fabric of Canada.
News bulletins and political discussion pro-grams have just paid lip service to the an-nouncements without analyzing the timing, the background or the motives for the two drafts and continued to keep their focus on the run-up to Olympic games in Sochi.
Living in what is universally accepted as one of the coldest coun-tries in the world and having hosted two Winter Olympics winning quite a number of gold medals, it is only natural for Canadians and Cana-dian media to be interested in Sochi games. What is not natural, though, is the negligence in attaching the due importance to the drafts.
One of the drafts is about updat-ing the legislation governing the immigration and citizenship process-es. Certainly, as should be, there are some substantial improvements in the new draft aimed at ensuring that those who want to come to Canada are more dedicated to their new homeland and readier to adjust to Canadian society than as suggested under the existing legislation.
The problem is, though, the new draft creates a large loophole in pro-cessing immigration and citizenship applications by “personalizing” many of the decisions to be made in the process, giving the minister in charge the power to single-handedly strip in-dividuals off their actual or expected Canadian citizenship, while also au-thorizing immigration officers to turn down immigration or citizenship ap-plications without setting any criteria for taking such decisions.
The pretext is fighting terrorism and preventing fraudulent practices, and no one can raise any objections to that. Given, however, the obvious tendency of the federal government
to politicize federal bu-reaucracy, this draft, if it becomes law as it looks likely, can very well be used to vet immigration applicants as regards to their political back-grounds.
As for the other draft, it proposes to amend the election law. Again, it brings in new arrangements for prevention of fraudu-lent voting and stricter regulations for imple-
mentation of voting procedures, which should be considered improvements. But it also brazenly clips the pow-ers of the chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand to launch investigations into allegations of election fraud.
One remembers the robocall vot-ing scandal in 2012 elections and cannot help thinking whether Mr. Harper and his government are pre-paring the ground for more election day “practices” to cling to power, practices that they would rather have not investigated.
Let’s not forget that the new draft also raises the limits of contributions by individuals to political parties elec-tion campaign funds. And who do you think would benefit from that amend-ment?
As discussed recently in this column, the pipeline politics is fast warming up following the release of the US State Department report on the prospects of the Keystone XL pipe-line. The report, which did not raise any serious objections to the construc-tion of the pipeline which will carry bitumen to oil refineries in Texas, has probably already had several oil exec-utives on both sides of the border start to ecstatically rub their hands. There is certainly a lot of money to be made through the construction and opera-tion of that pipeline and Mr. Harper seems determined to stay at the com-mand centre to be able to decide who gets how big a slice from the cake.
Politics behind the Olympic smokescreen
Mustafa EricEditor
Dear Editor I have some serious concerns about the Calnash
Ag Event Centre and the direction that this facility is taking. At the onset of the planning, a commit-tee that I am involved with was asked to meet with members of the Stampede Association to discuss what would be needed in the new facility to accom-modate cattle events. At that time, I was under the impression that the facility would be a multi-use fa-cility (as stated on their web page). Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case.
A recent rental inquiry to host a Youth Cattle Clipping Clinic and Show met with very little suc-cess (this would have been their third year). Access was very limited and very expensive; they were also advised that the facility was more equine fo-cused. I did some price comparisons and it would be cheaper to stall cattle at Farm Fair in Edmonton than in Ponoka. I realize that the bottom line is very important and the cutting, team penning and barrel racing events provide a much needed income, but for the majority of the participants, it is a hobby not a career.
The small barn at the rear of the facility was built with asphalt flooring which makes it ideal for live-stock, but at this time the barn is full of box stalls. There are not many times during the year that all of these stalls are required, so it would make sense to me to remove these stalls so that the barn could be used for cattle events and when the need arose, they could be put back in. I understand that to date, there has only been one bull sale held in the facil-
ity and they were told this year that the Ag Event Centre was unable to host their event. It seems to me that with this being bull sale season, rentals should be a top priority as they would definitely generate revenue, not only for the facility but for the Town of Ponoka as a whole. Vold, Jones & Vold Auction Mart uses the “Cattle Capital of Canada” as their moniker, but obviously this thought does not extend across the road.
As a county taxpayer, I would like to see the benefits from over $3.8 million (cash and work in kind) extend to the 4H members and the youth of our agricultural industry; whether they be involved with the equine or cattle industry. After all, they are the future of the industry as well as the com-munity. When the building was under construction, a lot of the companies that donated did so because they thought that the community would benefit as a whole, not just the equine section of the industry. I wonder if they know the direction this facility is taking.
I have discussed my concerns with Doug Weir, the County of Ponoka councillor on the PAECS Board and I hope that he recognizes the importance of encouraging the diversified use of this facility.
If the current trend continues, the Calnash Ag Event Centre will definitely become known as an elitist facility (and not in a positive light).
After all, the sign on the front of the facility reads “The Calnash Trucking Ag Event Centre”, not “The Calnash Trucking Equine Centre”.
Chris Orom
Is Calnash Ag Event Centre on the right track?
PONOKA NEWS Page 7Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Celebrate Family Day - February 17, 2014At The Ponoka Culture & Recreation Complex from 11am – 4 pm
• Skating on main ice, pick up shinny on small ice (helmets required)• KidSport 3-on-3 hockey challenge – Outdoor Rink• Hotdogs and hot chocolate served 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
• Bon Fire – Arena Parking Lot 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm
• Visit with Town Councillors 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm
**Admission is a donation to the Ponoka Food Bank
Town TimesCome visit us: 5102 -48 Avenue; Ponoka, AB T4J 1P7
Phone: 403-783-4431 Fax: 403-783-6745 Email: [email protected] Check us out Online: www.ponoka.ca
COUNCIL UPDATES & BYLAW INFO
EVENTS AND RECREATION
NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Skating: Proudly sponsored by Ponoka Lions Monday - Thursday: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm,Saturday & Sunday: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm **Shinny Hockey on Weekdays only**
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The Eskimos have 52 words for snow because it is so special to them; there ought
to be as many for love!” ~ Margaret Atwood
Business Licenses Are Now Overdue, Penalties Will Be Applied!A penalty of 15% of will be applied on all unpaid Business Licenses due January 31, 2013. For more information, please call 403-783-0119 or 403-783-0117.
DID YOU KNOW...? Ice removal is the responsibility of the resident and/or property owner. The warm weather has created icy conditions in many areas. The Town asks that residents remove ice build-up from their sidewalks and apply ice-melt as required. *Contact FCSS for a list of people willing to assist with sidewalk snow removal (a fee may apply). 403.783.4462.
Next Town Council MeetingsFebruary 25, 2014 @ 7 pm
Visit our website www.ponoka.ca for copy of the agenda.
Aquaplex UpdateFamily Day STAT Swim Feb 17th, 2 – 4pm family swim, 4 – 6pm public swim, families are ½ pricePD Day swim Feb 20 & 21 1-3pm
Ponoka Gym Club Family Day ActivitiesJoin the Gym club on Family Day, February 17 from 10 – 4pm at the old Advance School Equipment Building for hot dogs, gym demos, and free sparkle tattoos!
Visit the Ponoka Drop-In Centre on Family DayChildren’s Musical Performance by Mary Lambert - 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm Shows
Sponsored by Ponoka Early Childhood Development
Library EventsDINNER AT THE LIBRARY: Come enjoy our 2nd Annual POTLUCK Dinner at the Library on Thursday February 27th, from 6:00-8:00! We ask everyone who attends to bring in a dish, along with the recipe. Enjoy a full meal and get some recipe ideas. The library will provide beverages, buns, plates and utensils, you provide the good company. Please call or visit the library to sign-up or for more information.STORY TIME: Ponoka Jubilee Library invites children ages 3-6 and their parents to come to Story Time! Held every Monday at 2:00 pm and Friday at 11:00 am, this program helps to introduce children to the library and reading, as well as helping them prepare for kindergarten through the use of tools during the crafting portion of the day. A story will be read, a craft will be made, a game made be played, and friends will be found!
Like us on Facebook to stay up to date on all our events!
TOWN OFFICE CLOSED FOR FAMILY DAYThe Town Offi ce will be closed on Monday, February 17th for Alberta’s Family Day.
Payments or correspondence may be left in the drop box at the front door.
With the next sitting of the Legislature coming in March and the Throne Speech that comes with it, it is time to look ahead to the challenges that will be facing us in the year ahead. The official opposition will challenge the govern-ment’s priorities and put forward a positive alterna-tive!
The past year showed that the PC government is out of touch and no longer concerns itself with the challenges that Albertans face everyday. Whether the government handed out hundreds of millions in corporate welfare, main-taining perks and pay for politicians and upper managers or targeting our most vulnerable, we saw this govern-ment fail to put Albertans first.
It will be an important year for Alberta’s energy sector, as we await verdicts on the development of several pipeline projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline. These projects are vital to Alberta’s long term economic suc-cess and we will continue to advocate for them in 2014.
Unfortunately, there will likely be another deficit budget and more debt in 2014. The government continues to pile up the red ink to the tune of some $17 billion by 2016. Our current debt sits at approximately $7.7 billion. In 2011 the Premier said “Debt has prov-en the death of countless dreams,” and also stated that “Debt is the trap that has caught so many struggling govern-ments.” Now, Alberta, once a “have”
province is falling di-rectly into the debt trap. You can be assured that we will challenge the government on every penny spent.
It is time to think of new solutions and bold ideas to get Alberta back on the right path. I would like to invite you to be a part of that process. I would like to hear your thoughts on what the Alberta
government should be doing. In 2014, Albertans can count on the Of-ficial Opposition to stand up for your interests each and every day in the Legislature and in this constituency.
A big change for me in 2014 is the fact that the Leader Danielle Smith has promoted my Critic Portfolio obligations to International and In-tergovernmental Relations from my previous Service Alberta critic posi-tion. I will strive to make inroads in Intergovernmental Relations as well as International Relations, to serve Alberta and ensure Alberta is meeting its objectives.
The people of Lacombe Ponoka Constituency can count on me and my colleagues to stand up for responsible spending, front line services and the protection of the most vulnerable. Last year the WIldrose Official Opposition showed that we are a capable and diligent opposition party and in this coming year we will continue to show that we are a clear and viable alterna-tive to the current government.
Government will continue to pile up debt
Recent letters in the Ponoka News have questioned the government’s policies around placing seniors in con-tinuing care facilities, often called the ‘100 km rule’. We understand seniors going into continuing care want to be close to home and their families, and that is why these policies were re-scinded in summer 2013.
Alberta Health Services and the Health Quality Council of Alberta have been reviewing placement guide-lines in consultation with Health Advisory Councils, communities and seniors with an aim to ensuring that the current practice of ensuring that seniors are placed as close to their homes and loved ones continues.
Your readers should know that since 2010, through partnerships with not-for-profit and for-profit provid-ers, we have opened more than 3,000 continuing care spaces across the province. We remain committed to our goal of opening 1,000 new continuing care spaces a year through to 2015.
Our goal is for a new placement policy that keeps residents as close as possible to their homes and keeps couples together, while ensuring sen-iors receive appropriate care for their needs.
Dave QuestAssociate Minister of Seniors
Government of Alberta
Minister comments on care facility complaints
We reserve the right to edit for brevity, clarity and legal issues as well as to reject letters outright. Letters shouldn’t exceed 500 words. Only signed letters will be considered for publication. The opinions expressed in the letters to the editor are those of the writer and not of the Ponoka News. Please include an address &
daytime contact number for verification of authenticity.
The Editor, Ponoka News, Box 4217, Ponoka, AB T4J 1R6 Tel: 403-783-3311 Fax:403-783-6300
Classic Country Music Concert Saturday, March 1 at 7pm. Tickets $20Jam session every Saturday at 1 pm. $2 per person. Everyone welcome!
Monday Billiards 9:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday 50 cents per game. Honor system.
Monday Bridge 1:15 p.m.
Monday 1:30 p.m. Whist
Tuesday and Thursday Exercise class 9:30 a.m. fun exercise
Tuesday Shuffl eboard 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Sewing Guild 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday Cribbage 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday Duplicate Bridge 7:00 p.m
Wednesday Floor Curling 7:00 p.m.
Thursday Weaving 1:00 p.m. Phone Betty @ 783-3029
Thursday Partner Bridge 1:15 p.m.
Thursday Art Club – Noon to 4:00 pm
Thursday Pickle Ball 7:00 p.m. and Tuesdays 1:00 p.m.
Friday “500” 1:00 p.m.
Memberships still available. $10.00 person. Really inexpensive.
To rent our facility contact Dorothy @ 403-783-3027 or George @ 403-783- 3514 or leave a message @ 403-783-5012. Rentals are increasing and we would like to invite our town administration, business groups, and general public (Wedding, funeral, and Birthday groups), to inquire about rentals services and prices early in their planning. We may fi t your bill!
For the next couple of weeks millions of peo-ple here in Canada and throughout the world will sit on the edge of their easy chairs and tune in the action of the 2014 Win-ter Olympics from Sochi, Russia. Every one of us will certainly be cheering for our favourite team and saluting the colors of our nation, but we must always appreciate the magnificent efforts and hopefully good sportsmanship of all of those superb athletes.
Many will say that to much profes-sionalism and politics have now entered into the long-standing Olympic arena, but we must hope that the keen spirit of fair and clean competition will somehow always reign supreme and with pride for each and every nation. A long time friend sent me this amazing story, and may we ever dare to hope that all sports, at no matter what level or personal skill set could still be played and enjoyed as fun , while always giving the best ef-fort? At the end, no matter what the final outcome might be, is it not so very important to proudly share those great efforts and successes with everyone else
involved??The leg-
end of Cliff Young
It was in 1983 that a quiet 61 year old Australian sheep farmer would win a 544 mile en-durance race because he ran through-out the night while the younger ‘pro-f e s s i o n a l ’ athletes slept.
Every year this 543.7 mile (875 kilometres) endur-ance race from Sydney to Melbourne is hosted in the Australian heat, and is considered as one of the world’s most gruelling ultra-marathons. The race takes five days to com-plete and is normally only attempted by world-class athletes, who train vigor-ously for the event, and are
typically less than 30 years of age and backed by such corporate giants such as Nike.
It was in 1963 that a man named Cliff Young showed up at the start of the race. Cliff was 61 years old and wore overalls and work boots, and to every-one’s total shock they realized that he wasn’t a spectator when he picked up his race number and joined the other com-petitors. The press and other athletes became curious and questioned Cliff, in-forming him that he was crazy and that there was no way he would win this rug-ged race. ‘Yes I can,’ he quietly claimed. “You see, I grew up on a farm where we couldn’t afford horses or tractors, and the whole time that I was growing up, whenever storms rolled in, I’d have to go out and round up all the sheep. We had 2000 sheep on 2000 acres, and some-times I would have to run those sheep for two or three days and it took a long time, but I’d always catch them, and that is why I believe that I can win this race.”
When the race finally started, the pros quickly left Cliff behind, and the crowds and television audience were entertained because Cliff didn’t even run properly, appearing to shuffle, and many even feared for the farmer’s safety. This amazing story would quickly turn into a classic ‘Tortoise and the Hare’ ad-venture. All of the professional athletes knew quite well that it took five days to finish this gruelling race, and in order to compete one had to run about 18 hours a day and sleep the remaining six hours.
The thing is, Cliff Young didn’t know that, and when the morning of the sec-ond day came, everyone was in for yet another sursprise. Not only was Cliff still in the race, but to their disbelief, he claimed that he would run straight through to the finish without sleeping.
Cliff kept right on running, and each night he came a little closer to the leading pack. By the final night, he had surpassed all of those young world class athletes, he was the first competi-tor to cross the finish line, and he had set a new course record. When Cliff Young was awarded the winning prize of $10,000.00, he said that he didn’t know that there was a prize, and insisted that he did not enter for the money. He ended up giving all of his winnings to several other runners, a kindly act that would forever endear him to all of his home land of Australia.
After that first great victory the in-spiration of this totally unselfish man continued the following year as Cliff Young entered the same race, and de-spite having a displaced hip would finish in 7th place. He came to prominence again in 1997 when at 76 years of age he attempted to raise money for homeless children by running around Australia’s border. He would complete 6,250 kilo-metres of the 16,000 kilometre run but had to pull out because his only crew member had become ill. Clifford Young passed away in 2003 at the age of 81 years. Today, the infamous ‘Young Shuf-fle’ has been adopted by ultra-marathon runners because it is considered more energy efficient, while others have also adjusted their sleep habits to run night and day. Cliff Young in his unassuming but determined matter showed so many that sheer grit and spirit can be an inspi-ration to all athletes and everyone else, young and old, who are given the oppor-tunity to pursue their goals and dreams. Please keep the atmosphere hot by not forgetting your Valentine on February 14th, and have a great week, all of you..
Always stress the keen spirit and efforts of competition
Ponoka CapitolTheatre
4904 - 50th St.Ph. 403-783-3639
SCREEN #1
The Lego Movie 3D
100 min2:00 PMSat-Sun
7:00 PM DailyRated G
SCREEN #2Starting
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Robo Cop118 min2:00 PMSat-Sun
8:00 PM DailyRated PG 13
PLAYING February February
14 – 2014 – 20
2014 Olympic Men’s Hockey
TEAM CANADA VS
FINLANDPlaying Sun.
Feb. 1610:00 AM
Pre-admission
Parson’s Holiday Tours403.782.6341 or 403.318.5700
IMAX Theatre
Edmonton Space and Science Centre movies available for viewing
National Geographic’s
JERUSALEM THURSDAY,
March 6
$65/PP**includes 2 featured movies
For detailed information on these
trips please call
Pick up Locations:Red Deer at Denny’s 9:00 am
Lacombe Greenway Inn 9:30 am
Ponoka Tim Horton’s 10:00 am
Mike RainoneHammertime
February is turning out to be a grumbling, grouchy old month.
It seems to be full of misery!
And it seems to be contagious. And I am no exception.
As the days progress on the calendar, I find my-self beginning to feel like February, myself.
Miserable. Cold. Mad!I don’t really like to
feel all miserable, cold and mad like the weather, so I told myself to stop it.
Is your cup half full or half empty? I asked myself, sternly. “Frozen,” I answered myself. True! It was. Leave your coffee cup in the car overnight. And that’s what you get. Frozen coffee slush.
Anyway, despite the season, I decided I didn’t want to be all miserable and mad so I went out and bought this cool little coat that has layers and a fur trimmed hood that is delightful except it is too big and falls down over my eyes. I’m sure I do not look like a fashion guru, but just silly when I wear it, especially when I run into things as I can’t see too much because of all the fur over my eyes, but oh well. It is warm!
I also decided, even though it is not a characteris-tic I am well known for, to remember where my spare car key is, now and forever more.
That, of course, is because of the lesson Mother Nature taught me, only last week.
It was a chilly morning, minus 38 or something. Because it was so cold, I decided to start my car a few minutes before I left for work, hence not having to sit in a frozen icebox until I became frozen, as well.
I started the car, came back in the house and poured a coffee to go. All seemed well until I tried to get back into my car, coffee cup in hand.
My car was locked.“This cannot be,” I said silently to the cold and
frozen north that lay silently before me. “I know I did not lock it. Did not, did not, did not!”
I marched my little self, my rapidly cooling coffee cup and my anger back into the house, slamming the door in complete and utter frustration.
Just to be sure there was no key fairy lurking in my purse, I dumped its entire contents on the kitchen table.
I had a lot of junk in there, but, apparently, no spare keys.
Uttering several bad words entirely inappropriate for a grandma, I marched outside unsuccessfully pull-ing on all the door handles of my still running vehicle.
It was very locked!Finally, I phoned a tow truck driver, spitting out
my words in sharp, staccato sentences. “Come. Now. Please.”
“I’ll be there in half an hour,” he said, soothingly, like he held a magic key to my happiness which, of course, he did.
He was irritatingly cheerful when he arrived. “Weird things happen when it’s cold,” he said in that same soothing voice which made me want to hit something.
I smiled. He smiled. Then he took my money and he smiled again. I didn’t.
My car locked itself again this morning, but I was ready.
I had a spare key in my purse.
And, as I took the long, frozen drive to work, I felt something akin to happiness.
“Bring it on, winter,” I shouted to the frozen stillness, feigning brav-ery.
I heard a click.Darn! My doors
locked again. Where is that spare key?
The perils of winter
Subway FreshSubway Fresh
PersonalPersonalPizzaPizza
Try Our
Treena MielkeOn The Other Side
PONOKA NEWS Page 9Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
403-783-MEAT (6328) 4207 67 Street
www.familymeats.com
NEW BUSINESS HOURS:Mon-Fri: 8am - 6pm
Sat: 8am - 4pmClosed Sundays & Holidays
Prices in effect Feb 11 – Feb 17/14
10 lbs Pork ChopsONLY $22.00
All fresh sausages5 POUND BOX FOR $20.00
Beef Striploin $6.99/LB
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING LOCAL AT FAMILY MEATS IN PONOKA
Fill your freezer with ½ beef!! This week only
$2.95/LB
1974 (summer): STEP (Student Temporary Em-ployment Program) grant for summer months. Students provide temporary home services.
1974 (October): Dorothea Kaiser is the first paid adult homemaker; sponsored by Alberta Hospital Ponoka.
1975: Nine homemakers on staff.1975-1977: Canada Works Project Grant provided
for two years.1977 (May): The Community Program was devel-
oped with a volunteer Board of Directors and a paid part-time co-ordinator. Funding was provided by the Senior Citizens Bureau Grant and a local fundraising efforts by volunteers.
1977 (July): The organization’s first two programs are Homemakers (home support: light housekeeping and meal preparations) and Homemakers Program (personal care).
1977 (fall): Town of Ponoka provided funding and has continued to fund since that time. The county also became involved by submitting grant applications.
1978: M.S. Fund developed.1979: Ponoka Community Home Help Services be-
comes a registered society under Alberta Consumer and Corporate Affairs.
1981: Fifty “home help” clients, three to five cli-ents receiving Meals on Wheels, staff of 11.
1982 (October): Provincial government FCSS funding started with mandated funding from the town and county. The name was changed to Family and Community Support Services. Volunteer programs were established, including transportation service, friendly visits and phoning, social activities, palliative care and income tax.
1987 (October): First Home Support Aide Recog-nition Day—provincial conference hosted by Ponoka FCSS in Ponoka. Alberta was the first province to have a homemaker’s recognition week.
1990: Requests for volunteer services jumped from 50 in 1982 to 300 in 1990; 155 clients, 36 medical alert units.
1992: Lifeline units and monitoring introduced and replaced Appello units and bracelets. Twenty-eight staff, Meals on Wheels $4.35.
1995: Sixty lifeline units in service.1996: Seventy lifeline units in service.1997: Tools for School program started.2000: Cancer fund started.2004: Meals on Wheels $4.50. In 2004, 1,835 meals
were delivered to approximately 35 different clients.2005: Coats for Cold program started, Parent Link
joined the FCSS facility.2011: First year for the Community Garden.2014: It’s the 40th anniversary of FCSS, 100 life-
line units in service.
FCSS History TimelineBy Amelia Naismith
Ponoka’s FCSS is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and, as they look into the past, many staff members are beginning to realize just what has and hasn’t changed for the organization over the last four decades.
“I think, for me, the faces of FCSS have changed over the 40 years, but what’s remained consistent is the level of care, and empathy, and heart that goes into the organization,” said Shannon Boyce-Campbell, executive director.
For decades, FCSS has run programs to assist residents from the time they’re born to their lasts breath and Boyce-Campbell says she’s looking forward to proceeding with the same positivity. “I think that’s one thing Ponoka does well, they take care of their own.”
Boyce-Campbell feels it’s the people of FCSS who are carrying the organiza-tion’s history. Many relatives of former staff or clients are now involved. The granddaughter of former home care worker Shirley Onesto works with FCSS. “That’s just an example how the pace is set with families.”
Program co-ordinator Kerry Rob-ideau agrees FCSS has undergone many changes over the years — some more positive than others. “One of the things I’ve noticed is the more legislation gets involved, the harder it is to do the care part. It’s important for us to stay cen-tered on the care part.”
Gloria Winslow has been a health care aide with FCSS for the last 24 years and she’s witnessed first-hand the evolution of that industry with the orga-nization.
When she first started with FCSS, Winslow worked mainly in Rimoka’s Golden Leisure Lodge, but also ventured out to care for those in the community. She recalls having only one client in the lodge during her early years.
“What I’ve really noticed is (that) the clients that come in now, so many more need help,” said Winslow. Two decades ago most seniors moving into the lodge would still be able to walk in under their
own two-legged power. Now, Winslow says most need an
aid of some kind, such as a walker or wheelchair. “Our dining room looks like a parking lot.”
She believes people used to move into the lodge at a younger age and now, because of the work of FCSS, seniors are able to stay in their own homes lon-ger. “I know that in many people’s hearts they want to stay in their own homes as long as they can, and I know that’s hap-pened.”
“They’re really grateful to stay there as long as they can,” she added.
When Winslow first joined the FCSS team, there were 26 women that worked to provide home care to the community. Now the team is up to 29, yet each aide has less time to spend on the clients as the need for their services grow.
“One of the major changes that has come out, when I first started working, we were allowed 45 minutes for a bath.” Winslow says she would also take extra time to look after her clients’ finger and toenails and visit. In many cases aides and clients became good friends.
However, now baths have been cut down to a half hour and someone with a nursing degree has to review finger and toenails.
Another change Winslow witnessed was who gave out the clients’ medica-tions. “When I first started, the house keepers gave out the meds.”
She remembers making a comment on how she was surprised that job didn’t fall to the nurses. “The next thing I knew, we’re taking a course on giving out the meds,” Winslow said with a chuckle.
Before joining FCSS, Winslow worked at Northcott for five years but a horse injury rendered her unable to do the lifting required for that job. It was a friend, somebody already with FCSS, who encouraged her to apply and she was immediately given the job.
Marian Winacko is a home support worker, who will have been with FCSS 25 years with fall, and, like Winslow, she sees many more older senior needing as-
sistance as the years go by.For her, the biggest changes have
been her clients; they come and go as older ones move to lodges or die and new ones come in, as they grow older. Because she’s only involved in house keeping and not personal care, Winacko says her practices don’t change much. “I’m probably still using some vacuums from 25 years ago,” she joked.
Winacko says one of the most inter-esting parts of her job is interacting with the seniors and listening to their own history and the changes they’ve seen. “That’s what FCSS is all about, hearing their stories. Seniors built this town; they had businesses, they’re the backbone.”
“Sometimes they just want to sit and visit . . . There’d be Fridays I’d get home and say ‘Harry, I hope you’re not hungry because I’ve been eating all day’. This one wants to have tea and cookies, this one wants to make you soup and sand-wiches and this one wants a snack, too. Of course I did my own work, but they wanted to visit,” she added.
Looking at the organization’s 40th anniversary in the community, Winacko is both pleased and excited. “It’s some-thing to be proud of. It’s really great to work for a place that offers so much.”
“And not only the services they of-fer but the extras they might also do, like rake leaves or shovel snow,” she added. Winacko feels more people need to be made aware of FCSS and what they can offer. “When I first started, I don’t even know how I heard of FCSS, it wasn’t known.”
Even as they celebrate their accom-plishments FCSS staff remain concerned with the home care contract and how possibly losing it in 2015 could affect the organizations next 40 years. “It you lose a contract like FCSS and it’s priva-tized, it’s never the same. It’s sad a place like this has to fight so hard to keep a contract,” said Winacko.
“I remember my old boss, too, fight-ing, trying so hard to keep FCSS alive,” she added.
Ponoka FCSS hits its 40th anniversary
Residents at the Golden Leisure Lodge enjoyed a Winter Walk Day indoors to stay fit and active last week. Photo submitted
Page 10 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Make cashnot trash!#ShouldaUsedRedDeer
An early start? Dawn DeLeeuw, 16 months old, was getting a feel of the basketball during the halftime break of the senior Broncs girls’ game against Sylvan Lake Lakers on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the St. Augustine School gym, possibly in preparation for a basketball career when she reaches the right age. Photo by Mustafa Eric
Dear Editor:On behalf of the seniors living
in the Heritage Estates (along 46th Ave. and along 52nd St.), I would like to thank Cam Rice and Doug Laing of CR Investments for clear-ing the snow next to our driveways;
and to Calnash Trucking for buying their time and donating the money to Ponoka Minor Hockey.
It is so nice to have space to throw the white stuff!
Gratefully, Gwen Plested
Consideration of Seniors Much Appreciated
Winter Warm-up fundraiser hot lunch is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Neighbourhood Place, 5102 49
- 1900 sq ft, Gorgeous 2 Storey- 6 Bdrms & 3.5 Baths- Custom Kitchen- High end fi nishings- 6 acres; just outside of Ponoka- Fully fi nished; In-fl oor heat- 3.5 acres with Invisible fencing$585,000 ~ Call Bob
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- 1060 sq ft w/ 2 bdrms and 3 baths- Low maintenance living- 2 storey and fi nished on all 3 levels- Master w/walk in- Nicely located in Lucas Heights
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WHY RENT?- over 1200 sq ft fully developed on
2 levels- 3 bdrms & 2 baths- Large landscaped backyard w/a great
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MODERN & INVITING- 2127sq ft log home located on 3.46 acres- 4 bdrms & 2 baths in1.5 storey- Floor to ceiling stone fi replace- Spacious country kitchen- Gorgeous landscaping- Corrals, pastures, & horse shelter for animals- Barn & stock waterer$429,900 Call Jane
COUNTRY LIVING AT ITS FINEST - Subdivision potential- 3 bdrm bungalow- Lot approx 55’ x 259’- 24’x 26’ detached garage- Quiet location on a non-
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THIS ACREAGE HAS EVERYTHING- 2536 sq.ft. walk out 4 b/r, 3 baths- Bright Kitchen & Eating Area- Kitchen offers direct access to
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Submitted by Rosella Snopek
With the renova-tions still incomplete at the Stettler Recreation Centre, the Canalta Ho-tel agreed to providing a meeting room and lunch for our Zone 4 Alberta 55 plus crib group. Twenty-one teams signed up from Mirror, Camrose, Stet-tler/Halkirk, Daysland, Ponoka, Big Valley, Wetaskiwin, Lacombe, Sedgewick, and Er-skine. We filled that meeting room right to the brink. Lots of laughter, happy New Years’ and smiling fac-es. Once the 12 games were completed, third place went to Joyce McVee and Linda Ste-venson from Camrose; second place was cap-tured by Lisa & Walter Hawksworth from Mir-ror and first place went to Bob Boswell from Big Valley partnered with Dennis Ensminger from Ponoka with 11 wins, 1438 points.
Big winners: Bob Boswell (left) from Big Valley partnered with Dennis Ensminger from Ponoka with 11 wins, 1438 points at a recent Zone 4 Al-berta 55 plus cribbage tournament. Photo submitted
21 Teams attended the first Crib Challenge Cup in 2014
PONOKA NEWS Page 13Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Beautiful building sites just a short drive south of Ponoka in Jada Estates. Building restrictions make this property an exclusive area for upscale homes. Seven acreages available.
Call Wayne 403-704-0864
COUNTRY RESIDENTIAL This 10 acre parcel is a perfect choice to build that dream home and have plenty of room to keep livestock, grow trees or organic gardening. Nice lay of land with #1 soil, service borders property. Located just minutes north of town. REDUCED $89,000.00 Terms available.
Call Brian for more details. 403.704.7018
.64 acre, great development property. Chance to develop up to 5 lots. Property priced $20,000 under assessed value. Offered for sale at $60,000.
Call Brian 403-704-7018
RIVERSIDE
JOHN W. LOW Agencies Inc.5118 - 50th Street, Ponoka 1-800-392-8658 403-783-5512
PROFESSIONAL REALTORS OF JOHN W. LOW AGENCIES INC.
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RED DEER LAKEFull time living or recreational property at Red Deer Lake. 3 bdrm. Very clean property shows pride of ownership. Mature subdivision. $189,900 Call Wayne 403-704-0864
SOUTH OF PONOKATwo 10 acre parcels.
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$798,000.00
WEST OF RIMBEY
By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Located at the intersection of two major highways with heavy traffic, all restaurants, but especially the fast-food outlets in Ponoka are some of the busiest businesses of the town and residents are particularly keen that food safety and hygiene are kept at the top of the priorities of the restaurants.
Dr. Ifeoma Achebe, medical officer of health with Alberta Health Services (AHS), says anyone who suspects that a business is not taking adequate care of its facility in terms of food safety and hygiene should report the matter to Alberta Health services without delay.
When handling complaints, AHS’s goal is to follow-up on a call within two days.
“We do follow-up complaints as fast as we can,” said Achebe. Restaurants are not the only area AHS inspects. Anytime public safety
is involved such as public pools, rental housing and even splash parks, AHS will inspect.
“The bottom line is if you see something going wrong, just let us know,” said Achebe.
Any restaurant looking to start up a business must ensure all health re-quirements have been met with Alberta Health Services (AHS).
In the central Alberta area, AHS have conducted 20,000 inspections; some from routine visits and others from specific complaints, says Dr. Achebe.
Entrepreneurs looking to open up a restaurant, or business that serves food, need to follow specific guidelines from AHS and a food safety inspec-tor will conduct an initial inspection prior to the restaurant opening up. The purpose of these visits is for public health.
“What we’re doing here is to protect the health of the public,” said Achebe. AHS has three goals:
• To stop the spread of illness• Ensure compliance of standards and regulations• Provide an opportunity to educate the public and food service facilities of those safety standards
“When we do inspections, we look out for various things like: proper food handling, temperature control, cleaning, proper food storage, hand washing and hygiene, cross-contamination and control,” Achebe explained.
Other factors such as having proper commercial dishwashers that can handle a specific load are important as well as storing the proper amount of potable water, regular fridge and freezer temperature checks and regular maintenance are also important to inspectors. “These are the key things that we look out for.”
Routine inspections are conducted one to three times per year depending on the risk category. A convenience store may not have the same risks such as a restaurant handling raw meet and fresh vegetables, said Achebe; cross-contamination has a higher risk level.
When asked how a person can tell if a restaurant is clean, Achebe said most people do not go into the kitchen to check but clean surfaces may be one indication. Sometimes workers can be seen conducting safe practices such as washing their hands or covering their hair in the kitchen.
AHS can be contacted at 1-877-360-6366 or online at http://www7.albertahealthservices.ca/restaurant-inspections/ for complaints or more infor-mation.
Food safety an important part of AHS
A recent grant pledged to the Boys and Girls Club of Wolf Creek is going to go a long way to improve the club’s kitchens, according to a press release issued by the club, which will receive $8,000 from President’s Choice Children’s Char-ity for kitchen renovations and equipment.
The donation is the share of the Wolf Creek Club from the $500,000 donated by President’s Choice Children’s Charity (PCCC)to Boys and Girls Clubs in Alberta through the national um-brella organization to upgrade their kitchens, purchase appliances and ensure safe food han-dling. A total of 21 Clubs across the province will receive Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Kids grants in 2014.
Thanks to the support of PCCC, Boys and Girls Clubs of Wolf Creek will be able to purchase tables, chairs, appliances and picnic tables for the Ponoka and Rimbey Club Locations.
“Boys and Girls Clubs of Wolf Creek is proud to be a good place for young people to access
nutritious food and learn about healthy eating choices,” says Beth Reitz, executive director.
“PCCC has made a difference in our capacity to fuel young bodies and minds and help children and youth develop positive habits that can last a lifetime.”
While the club will be able to purchase many useful item, the tables will provide a fun, outdoor environment during snack or lunch breaks.
“We are excited to be able to get outdoor, ce-ment picnic tables in spring. We have been wanting to purchase these for a long time so that our kids can have their lunches and snacks outside,” said Reitz in an email.
The money has already been sent to the group and Reitz says they have a year to purchase the things they need.
President’s Choice Children’s Charity has sup-ported Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada’s food and nutrition program, Basic Needs, Brighter Futures, since 2011.
Boys and Girls Club receives grant for upgrades
Page 14 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
ORDER YOURS AT BOSTON PIZZA ON VALENTINE’S DAY, FEBRUARY 14. store info goes here
Due to the recent tragedy in Haiti, proceeds from the upcoming sale of Heart-Shaped Pizzas and paper hearts will be split between the relief efforts in Haiti and the many other charities that the Boston Pizza Foundation regularly supports.
Thank you for helping us help others who are desperately in need.
Heart-Shaped Pizzas are back! 4820 60 St. Hwy 2A
Ponoka
403-783-6600
Thank you for helping us help others who are in need.
The proceeds from the sale of Heart-Shaped Pizzas and paper hearts will be sent to the Boston Pizza Foundation.
“Confessions of a Wild Child” by Jackie Collins
c.2014, St. Martin’s Press$26.99 / $29.99 Canada294 pages
Oh, the things you got away with when you were a teen!
Cutting classes and hanging out in the school parking lot. Sneaking out of the house when your parents thought you were asleep, parties when they weren’t home, “bor-rowing” their car, busting curfew, stupid stuff you hope your kids never do.
You got away with a lot. It’s a good thing your mother never knew.
Then again, as you’ll see in “Confessions of a Wild Child” by Jackie Collins, she probably did the same things when she was a kid.
Almost-fifteen-year-old Lucky Santangelo was tired of being in prison.
Ever since her mother was murdered ten years prior, Lucky’s father, Gino, kept Lucky and her brother, Dario, locked in their posh Bel Air mansion. They weren’t allowed to go anywhere unchap-eroned, though Lucky was good at sneaking out. Outwitting Gino was fun - until the day he informed her that she was being shipped to a “very expensive” boarding school in Switzerland.
As it turned out, it wasn’t the worst thing that ever happened. Eager to find out about boys and sex, Lucky and her boarding school roommate escaped every night,
biked into town, drank, and played a game Lucky called “Almost.” It was a fun, empowering game in which she “almost” lost her virgin-
ity to several local boys.Kicked out of the Swiss school
for “Almost,” Lucky was sent to a different school in Connecticut but
she didn’t stay long: her former roomie, a Greek heiress named Olivia, invited Lucky to the south of France. It was easy to get there.
It was even easier to forget to tell Gino where she was.
Caught once again, Lucky was dragged to Las Vegas, where Gino told her that he’d figured out how to tame her. As much as she wanted to walk in her father’s footsteps and go into business, Lucky wasn’t destined to run the Santangelo Empire. No, that would be Dario’s future. For Lucky, marriage and babies were inevitable.
And Gino Santangelo be-lieved that was that.
But if he thought he had a wild child before, he hadn’t seen anything yet…
Every once in awhile, I get in the mood for a good trashy novel and, really, you can’t beat a book by author Jackie Collins. You can’t. Still, there are bumps
and bruises inside “Confessions of a Wild Child.”
It’s often hard, first of all, for an adult to write in the voice of a young teenager, and the first few pages of this book reflect it: Lucky sounds like a middle-aged woman. That bump passes quickly, but oc-casionally returns; there are also light continuity errors in here, and some preening repetition. Turn up the heat, though, and you’ve got a story that has its flaws but is, over-all, a delightfully guilty pleasure.
Though Lucky is a teenager in this book, this is an escapist-novel for adults. If you’re looking, in fact, for something to take on that mid-winter vacation, “Confessions of a Wild Child” is a great book to get away with.
Drama through a teen’s eyes
Photo by Greg Gorman
Valentines DayValentines DayIf you’re looking, in fact, for something
to take on that mid-winter vacation,
“Confessions of a Wild Child” is a great
book to get away with.
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Well attended- The regular tea party organized by the Concord-Zion Ladies Group was hosted at the Legacy Place on Friday, Feb. 7, with a sizeable attendance, raising hopes that the seniors’ hour-long Friday activity can attract enough interest to return it to its golden days. Photo by Mustafa Eric
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A young Ponoka girl is seeking support and donations for an assignment in Africa, where she wants to gain experience and “learn to appreciate what we have here.”
Born to parents of South Asian origin and raised in Alberta, Sanam Iqbal Amiri is a first year nursing student at Grant MacEwan University in the Psychiatric Nursing program.
As part of an international medical placements program called “Work The World”, Sanam is pre-paring to depart for Tanzania this summer for a few weeks of work in Dar Es Salaam as an intern.
“This internship involves examining mental health concerns in Tanzania as well as the social stigma associated (with them).” Sanam said in an
Nursing student seeks medical supply donations for Africainterview.
This would entail working in out-patient clinics that diagnose and treat schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression, drug abuse, anxiety, alcoholism and acute psychosis.
“An opportunity like this would allow me to grow in my profession and in my practice as a registered psychiatric nurse as well as strength-ening my appreciation of Western healthcare and nursing,” she said.
The reason for selecting Dar Es Salaam for her internship is that she has relatives in Tanzania and she also would like to know the circum-stances shaping the life and practice of medicine in the country where so many of her relatives live.
“This internship will broaden my horizons as I will see the difference between the circumstances here and in a developing country.”
In addition to her internship work, Sanam, being a Moslem, also hopes to be able to volunteer at least some of her time at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar Es Salaam.
One particular feature of this in-ternship is that Sanam is paying to work as an intern and on her trip, she
is also hoping to be able to take a lot of medical supplies to the people she will work with and to other medical facilities there.
She gives an example of the sur-gical gloves, which are so widely available here but in very much short supply in Tanzania.
Since she started her campaign to collect and raise funds for medi-cal supplies, Sanam says she has managed to mobilize some support within the Ponoka community but she thinks she needs more in order to be able meaningfully contribute to addressing at least some of the short-ages of medical supplies there.
Alongside working for the hos-pital she is assigned to through her internship program, Sanam says she also would like to visit orphanages and other similar institutions dealing with social and mental health issues in Dar Es Salaam.
Until July, when she will be taking the trip to Tanzania, Sanam would like to collect as much medi-cal supplies as she can take with her. Anyone willing to contribute to the effort should e mail Sanam at [email protected] .
Sanam Iqbal Amiri
PONOKA NEWS Page 17Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Recently I have been hearing from folks around the constituency that are reacting to the news re-ports coming from Ottawa concerning the treatment of our veterans. I am proud to know that my constituents support our veterans and want to make sure that our government is doing all they can to support those who bravely fought for the freedoms we have today. Unfortu-nately, some of the information that has been reported is incorrect or missing altogether. I would like to take this op-portunity to clear the air on the closure of eight Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) offices.
First, let me say that I have always held our veterans in the highest regard and my office has always stood by ready to help any veteran that may be hav-ing issues dealing with Veterans Affairs Canada. I can only imagine that every Member of Parliament in Canada does the same – that is 308 offices across Can-ada that are ready to assist Veterans.
In addition to MP offices and existing Veterans Affairs Canada offices, there are also 1461 Legions across Canada where veterans are helping veterans. To improve access, our Government has now opened veteran services at 600 Service Canada locations. That is a new increase of 592 service locations across Canada. In those instances that a veteran is infirm or oth-erwise unable to present themselves at one of these locations comfortably, our government has made the commitment that a representative will go directly to a veteran’s home to provide the needed as-sistance. With respect to the eight office closures, it should be noted these loca-tions were underutilized, they saw fewer than 10 visits per day and most of those were just dropping off forms; in five of the eight closure locations, a Service Canada location is in the same building. While locations have been amalgamated, the services previously received at a VAC office will still be delivered by a VAC-trained staff member.
Furthermore, I have been proud to vote for budget after budget that im-proves services for veterans. Before 2006, the annual veterans budget was approximately 2.8 billion dollars. Today that budget is over 3.64 billion dollars per year, an on-going investment of over 5 billion dollars in total. Over 90 per cent of this funding goes directly towards programs and services for veterans and their Families. At a time when the gov-ernment was asking for a 10 per cent budget reduc-tion from all departments, Veterans Affairs took the lowest reduction at 1.9 per cent and those cuts were aimed at inefficien-cies, not at programs and services.
Veterans Affairs Can-ada has also done many things to improve services for veterans, such as di-rectly providing cash to veterans for such things as
snow removal, lawn mow-ing and household chores through the Veterans Inde-pendence Program. The Permanent Impairment Assistance Program pro-vides the Canadian Armed Forces’ most injured members with lifelong compensation for eco-nomic losses due to severe impairment and financial assistance is available while veterans are receiv-ing rehabilitative care
through Veterans Affairs Canada so that our injured veterans can concentrate on what matters most, their families and their wellness. As well, all veterans now have access to Career Transition Services which assists eligible veterans seeking to obtain civilian employment by paying for or reimbursing them for career train-ing services.
So what is really going on? PSAC, or the Public Service Alliance of Canada, is a major union representing thousands of public servants across Canada. It is this group that admitted they flew veterans to Ottawa for the purposes of confront-ing the Minister of Veterans Affairs. Currently, Treasury Board is bringing changes that would align the public sec-tor compensation with that of the private sector. These changes are saving the Ca-nadian taxpayer billions of dollars and are unpopular with this union and while it is illegal for unions and corporations to contribute directly to political parties, unions are okay with using union dues to indirectly get involved in the political process. The real question is, is PSAC really looking after the interests of our veterans or simply exploiting an oppor-tunity to push their own agenda?
For more information on this or any other Federal matter, please contact my office at 1.800.665.0865. Veterans wishing to find out more about pro-grams available to them can also contact the Minster of Veterans Affairs at 1.866.522.2122.
Setting the Record Straight
NOTICE TO COUNTY RESIDENTSPonoka County intends to guarantee a loan in the amount of $1,800,000 in support of the Ponoka Agricultural Event Centre Society’s continuing operation of the Calnash Ag Event Centre. This guarantee will be in the form of a line of credit with Servus Credit Union, Ponoka, with an interest rate of prime less 0.5%. Copies of proposed By-Law 1-14-B can be picked up at the County Offi ce in Ponoka, or will be mailed or emailed to anyone who requests a copy.
Money to move: Audrey Williamson of the Royal Purple of Canada presents a $2,000 check to Nell Liddle, of the Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society Feb. 4. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
By Mustafa Eric Nominations closed on Tuesday, Feb. 4 for the
election of the Chief of Samson Cree Nation and 12 candidates remained on the ballots as the voters headed to the poll as Ponoka News went to print on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
The candidates are Vernon Saddleback, Arrol Crier, Lester B Nepoose, Earl Mario Swampy, Derek Bruno, Larron Northwest, Marilyn Buffalo, Murray (Harper) Potts, Kurt Buffalo, Patrick Buffalo, Lloyd Lorne Sad-dleback and the incumbent Marvin Yellowbird.
Only five of the 12 candidates prepared campaign leaflets to advertise their platforms while several other candidates just used radio announcements to appeal to voters for their support.
There was no information on the number of eligible voters.
The results of the election is expected to be an-nounced late Tuesday night.
Voters of the Samson Cree nation will once again cast their ballots on Tuesday, Feb. 25 to elect the new councillors, following the close of nominations for councillors on Feb. 18.
Samson Cree go to the polls
Ponoka Outreach School
Jim Wilkinson: This is my 6th year at the Ponoka Outreach School and I am very excited to work with this excellent staff. This year I am working with students mainly in Grades 8 to12 English. We are using technology to explore cool ways to communicate and we are having a lot of fun.
Getting to Know the Outreach
Thursday, February 13 Night school—Mrs. Cooke and Mr. Halbert
Friday, February 14 POS PD Day—No school for students
Monday, February 17 Family Day—No school for students
Tuesday, February 18 Winter Break—No school for students
Wednesday, February 19 Winter Break—No school for students
Page 18 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
By Elizabeth Lee Ford Jones Expert Advisor EvidenceNetwork.ca
We are not our genes.The choices we make, from breakfast to bed-
time, reshape our gene expression, moulding us into the people we are. Living an active life of purposeful activity with social support, eating nu-tritiously and sleeping well in a safe place to call home can reduce our risk of a host of diseases.
But more important than whether we make healthy choices is whether we can make them. Right now, many Canadians are struggling to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.
The late Clyde Hertzman, recipient of the Or-der of Canada for his ground-breaking work on early childhood development, said that much of childhood risk is preventable. On the anniversary of Hertzman’s death this month, we must remem-ber the powerful legacy he left behind; namely, his constant belief that by caring for children we can change schools, neighbourhoods, communities and cities - we can change the world.
Each child is born with 100 billion neurons, neither branched nor connected, with time-sensi-tive windows of optimal opportunity.
We are, as you read this, building brains in our communities.
We can build good brains or bad ones, and the experiences available in the first 1,000 days of life have an enormous impact. Hence the importance of the early years: cuddling, singing, reading and an early tuck into bed every night. The building blocks also stack and form in middle childhood and adolescence.
The environment we are in turns our genes off or on. Epigenetics, the study of changes to our genes that our children, and their children, could inherit, shows us that genes capture information from environmental exposures.
If the DNA is the hard drive, epigenetics is the operating system.
Consider the stress hormone cortisol, which is bad for the brain in excessive amounts: it switches genes off or on through specific receptors, such as those in the memory and learning centre, the hip-pocampus. The stress hormone receptor turns on or off depending upon the quality of caregiving. When the cortisol is activated too often and there is no responsive adult to balance out that stress, it becomes toxic.
Poverty, neglect, family violence and sub-stance abuse can expose children to toxic stress that changes their bodies and increases their
likelihood of having many problems later in life, including early pregnancy, heart disease, asthma and cancer.
Researchers understand these processes well. The evidence that experience moulds our biology is undeniable, and prevention must occur in the homes of children, in the policies created in the halls of government and in society at large. But the paths to Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill, where decisions are made, do not often cross through Canada’s many impoverished neighbourhoods, such as Toronto’s Regent Park, Jane and Finch and Scarborough, where healthy food is often scarce, and safe, affordable housing is hard-won. Closer to the city’s borders, public transit is sorely lack-ing.
One in 2.9 Torontonians lives in a poverty postal code, according to the Toronto Community Foundation. These Canadians and others like them suffer from inadequate transit, safety, affordable housing and a lack of subsidized healthy food. For example, Regent Park didn’t even have a grocery store until a few years ago.
Clyde Hertzman once said that neuroscience has caught up with social epidemiology. Unfortu-nately, our social policies have not caught up with these powerful sources of evidence, which have shown us the bonds between environment and health.
There is a fundamental disconnect between the parents most in need, who struggle each day to build the brains of their children and to keep them fed, and the policymakers who decide how many building blocks to hand over for the task.
Canada invests too many resources into com-plex care - treating people once they’re already sick - and too few into the factors that keep them healthy in the first place, starting in the first years of their lives.
A civil society requires a safe, supportive and affordable life for families, for optimal parenting that gives every child a chance in life.
Dr. Elizabeth Lee Ford-Jones is a paediatri-cian specializing in social paediatrics and Project Investigator at SickKids and a professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of To-ronto. The above represent the opinions of Dr. Lee Ford-Jones and not necessarily the official posi-tions of either The Hospital for Sick Children or the University of Toronto.
Canada’s social policies must start to catch up with science
Epigenetics shows how social and physical environments influence genetic development
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John Kerry has been US Secre-tary of State for precisely one year, and he has already 1) rescued Presi-dent Obama from his ill-considered promise to bomb Syria if it crossed the “red line” and used poison gas; 2) opened serious negotiations with Iran on its alleged attempt to build nuclear weapons; and 3) taken on the job of brokering an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord.
Getting Obama off the hook may yet lead to the US ending its support for the insurgency in Syria, which at this point would probably be the least bad outcome. Opening negotia-tions with Iran was long overdue, and makes the nightmare prospect of an American or a joint US-Israeli air at-tack on Iran daily less likely. But even King Solomon and Avicenna (Ibn Sina), sitting jointly in judgement on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, could not broker a peace accord there.
Kerry is indefatigable. He has been to Israel/Palestine eleven times in the past year, and spent as much as a hundred hours face to face with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Ne-tanyahu, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas or their close advisers. Unlike all the previous “brokers”, he has been astoundingly discreet: not a hint of what has been said in private has leaked into the public domain. And yet there is almost no hope of a real peace deal.
If persistence in the face of all the odds were enough, Kerry would be the man who finally made it hap-pen. But Kerry has no leverage: he has to rely on the desire of the two leaders to make the “peace process” work, and it just isn’t there; not, at least, on any terms that both would find acceptable.
The list of deal-breakers includes almost every topic under discussion:
the borders of a Palestinian state, the future of the Jewish settlements in the occupied territories, whether Jerusalem can be the joint capital of Israel and Palestine, whether Israel can maintain a military presence in the Jordan Valley, the right of Pal-estinian refugees to return to their ancestral homes, and Israel’s demand that the Palestinians recognise it as an explicitly Jewish state.
So why, then, has John Kerry embarked on his quixotic mission to make the “peace process” work? It has been effectively dead for at least a dozen years, although it remains unburied because the pretense that it is still alive allows everybody to avoid hard decisions. But Kerry, with his nine-month deadline to achieve a comprehensive “final-status agree-ment” (which expires in April), is taking it seriously.
His own explanation is lyrical but opaque: “I believe that history is not made by cynics. It is made by real-ists who are not afraid to dream.” But the business about “making history” – that, perhaps, is sincere. Kerry has had a long and interesting career as a senator, and even took a shot at the presidency, but this is probably his last big job, and he wants to make his mark.
The French general Pierre Bos-quet, watching the suicidal charge of the British Light Brigade in the Crimean War in 1854, said: “It is magnificent, but it is not war. It’s madness.”
Kerry’s foredoomed quest for a final peace settlement between Is-rael and the Palestinians is magnificent too, in its own peculiar way, but it’s not diplomacy. It’s hubris.
Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are pub-lished in 45 countries.
The Magnificent Kerry
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PONOKA NEWS Page 19Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
B
ABIES OF
2013 Scott DavidANDREWS
February 5, 2013Son of Jon and Maggie
Harper DouglasATTWOOD
October 14, 2013Son of Dave & Katie
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Hayden ClarkeBEHM
January 13, 2013Son of Lonny & Stephanie ( Lockhart)
Mackenzie GraceBROCHU
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Everly-Rose MaryDELEEUW
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Payton LillyDYKSTRAMay 31, 2013
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Eric GRINDE September 7, 2013Son of Luke & Sandra
Katie Sophia JeanHODGES
August 26, 2013Daughter of Allan Horne & Kathy Hodges
Walker JohnKRAUSE
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TAYLEE LYNNMCCARTY
JULY 12, 2013Daughter of Lee & Stephanie
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The winter of early 1966 was the third coldest year of the century, with 1950 and 1917 even colder. January 1966 tied January 1875 for the coldest month since records were kept at Red River. In February 1966 Winnipeg reached -49 the lowest February temperature ever recorded and the second coldest day ever. Winnipeg did not see the temperature go above zero for 90 days. But the year till then was without much snow. Snow started to fall after midnight on Thursday and despite the heavy snow, on Friday morn-ing March 4, people still went to work. But by mid-morning the streets were impassable. The buses were called in by 11:00 am. and would not return to the streets till the next Saturday morning. Schools closed for the Friday and the following Monday as did stores, restaurants and theatres. The big storm piled up 14.6 inch-es and was driven by winds gusting up to 70 miles an hour. This was the worst winter storm since March 1902. Eight foot high drifts were reported in the new suburb of Westwood. Af-ter the cleanup the plows created 12 foot high walls of snow along Ness Ave. Hundreds of cars were reported stranded on the TransCana-da Highway. The Grain Exchange did not open for the first time in its 61 year history.
Picture and text contributed by James Strachan
A Cold Winter Remembered
PONOKA NEWS Page 23Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
A drop in demand for goods and services and deteriorating cash flow put a brake on Canadian business confidence - belief in the prospects for one’s own organization - in the second half of 2013, a global sur-vey of financial professionals has revealed.
Nevertheless, belief in the pros-pects for the wider economy grew substantially.
The Global Economic Condi-tions Survey (GECS) was carried out by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and IMA (the Institute of Manage-ment Accountants). A total of 3,471 finance professionals in 120 jurisdic-tions were surveyed in the second half of 2013, with in-depth coverage available for 16 markets.
“Overall, the Canadian finance professionals interviewed were less optimistic than most other respon-dents about the prospects for their organizations,” said Suzanne God-behere, Head of ACCA Canada. “Thirty-seven per cent reported a loss of confidence in the second half, up from 34 per cent in the previous half.”
Godbehere explained that the second half of 2013 should have seen Canadian business confidence in-crease. Business opportunities grew, making up for the ground lost in the previous year and a half, the sup-
ply of growth capital increased, and prices and exchange rates appeared to stabilize.
“However, with a continuing fall in demand and the resultant cash flow issues, businesses responded by cutting back on investment and con-fidence declined,” said Godbehere.
Yet positive economic sentiment in Canada - a belief in the pros-pects for the wider economy - grew substantially. Fifty-six per cent of respondents believed that economic conditions are improving or about to do so - up from 46 per cent in the first half of the year.
The pessimists now make up only 40 per cent of the Canadian sample, down from 54 per cent in the first half.
The contrast between rising faith in the recovery and flagging business confidence in Canada was echoed in China and Hong Kong, as well as smaller economies with a strong ex-pert base.
The professional bodies claim that the global ‘consensus of re-covery’ that has taken hold in the second half of 2013 is divorced from economic conditions on the ground, especially in the slowing emerging markets. In Canada, fiscal policy was also a cause for concern for busi-nesses, with respondents reporting unease as they watched the country emerge from an era of austerity.
Flagging Demand Hits Business Confidence in Canada Despite Rising Faith in the Recovery,
Finds ACCA/IMA Report
By Mark Milke Senior Fellow The Fraser InstituteTroy Media
As a publicity stunt, the recent New Demo-cratic Party proposal to limit withdrawal fees at some automated teller machines (ATMs) at fifty cents worked well. But getting publicity for an idea, including a poor one, is one thing; getting attention to useful reforms that will greatly ben-efit consumers is quite another. The ATM idea is a good example of the former and not the latter.
For one thing, banks are federally regulated institutions. So any attempt to limit ATM charges would not apply to the many non-bank ATM ma-chines at convenience stores, restaurants, bars and elsewhere. That’s where one usually pays higher fees for the privilege of not planning ahead and withdrawing money from one’s own bank or credit union.
Besides, banks are already subject to competi-tion and thus they, along with other private sector institutions, can charge what they want - or not. I choose to bank where I pay no fees. I also avoid ATMs not owned by that financial institution. More competition in Canada’s banking sector is welcome, but that’s a different debate than micro-managing what banks, convenience stores, or the local pubs charge at ATMs.
The NDP proposal, and the Conservative gov-ernment’s own hint in its last Throne Speech to “expand no-cost basic banking services,” are both political examples of the tendency to be “penny-wise and pound-foolish.” The NDP-Tory fixation is akin to the guy who will drive five miles to save fifty cents on milk but spend a buck in gasoline and automotive wear-and-tear to do it.
It is easy to bash banks (the NDP obsession), or telecommunications and internet service providers (the Tory preoccupation) but some competition al-ready exists in both those sectors, though more is preferable to less.
In contrast, both parties miss obvious policy areas that could save consumers a small fortune - but where prices are currently jacked up in fa-vour of existing producers. That includes both the private sector and the government sector where little competition exists or is in fact prohibited by governments.
If the NDP and Conservatives desire to help consumers in a substantive way, as opposed to this penny ante stuff, here are some useful and conse-quential ideas that would indeed save consumers money.
First, support the abolition of dairy and poultry marketing boards, legally allowed by the federal government to restrict competition and supply (no foreign cheese and milk or chickens except at very high duties). The power to restrict supply exists only due to federal legislation passed in 1966 to allow for such cartel-like powers. That creates conditions whereby producers can and do legally gouge consumers, in an effort to preserve “price stability”.
Such “price stability” - which in non-Or-
wellian language means price-fixing, means the poorest of Canadians get hurt the most, given they spend the greatest proportion of their income on food. Former Liberal Member of Parliament Mar-tha Hall Findlay noted a few years back that the rigged price-fixing system costs families an extra $300 per year.
Second, the NDP and Conservatives could also, via their provincial wings, support the privati-zation of automobile insurance in provinces where the governments have a monopoly on basic auto-mobile policies. Policyholders are best served in a system with competition and choice. Insurance premiums are generally cheaper in private sector provinces when apple-to-apple comparisons are made. The only exception has been in high-cost Ontario: high-cost because of a combination of no-fault coverage, fraud, and high claim costs that ratchet up Ontario premiums.
(For the record, I am aware of older studies from the so-called Consumers’ Association of Canada that once claimed insurance costs were higher in private sector provinces. But as I have detailed in several studies and multiple columns, all available online, the Association’s comparisons were based on misleading internet comparisons, not real paid premiums. Even a past Ontario di-rector with the Consumers’ Association refused to use her own group’s unsupportable numbers.)
Third, if the two parties care about consum-ers, they might (through their provincial wings), support abolishing the antiquated Prohibition-era government liquor stores that still exist in ev-ery province except Alberta. Such govern-ment-run stores, and the government-owned and run wholesale distribution system behind them, prevent competition and lower prices. Government li-quor store are not in the consumers’ best inter-est.
When the NDP and Conservatives finish with the above, con-sumers will be much better off, and the par-ties will have proven to be pound-wise on mat-ters where government policy currently and in-evitably leads to higher prices for consumers.
Bank fees a diversion from real consumer interests
There are far better ways for the government to save consumers money
14022LL0
The all-party Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future is undertaking a study on the feasibility of establishing a high-speed rail transit system for Alberta. Should a project proceed, it would be completed in phases, with the first section operating between Edmonton and Calgary.
Your opinion is important to the Committee. If you would like to present at a public input meeting, register with the Committee Clerk by February 20, 2014. A schedule of presenters will be posted online by February 21. Unable to attend? Share your thoughts in a written submission to the Committee Clerk by March 31, 2014.
Your Input Is ImportantStudy of high-speed rail in Alberta
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Page 24 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
In 2013, Statistics Canada reported record soybean production numbers in the west and Manitoba alone produced 1.1 million tonnes. With the shorter growing seasons and uncontrol-lable factors like frost and weather in western Canada, seed companies are focused on deliver-ing shorter maturing varieties to suit the western Canadian climate.
In Manitoba, growing soybeans is still a new concept to some, and to others it may not be a regular crop in their rotation. Saturated soils affect the inoculation process and soybean de-velopment, especially on virgin soil acres. Using an inoculant is an important, common practice that improves the inoculation process and gets crops out of the ground sooner than if not in-oculated.
“By double inoculating soybeans with a BioStacked inoculant, growers are essentially reducing their risk,” says David Townsend, Brand Manager of Branded Biologicals at BASF Canada. “A BioStacked inoculant adds a more active strain of rhizobia, along with other ben-eficial bacteria, that promotes root growth, root health, and wellbeing, which leads to increased nodulation and better soybean performance.”
According to Townsend, soybean growers in Manitoba can benefit from double inoculat-ing, especially those growing soybeans on virgin soils or in areas where flooding is common. “In order to get a maximum return on investment, a BioStacked on-seed product like Nodulator
N/T should be applied along with a high quality granule, such as Nodulator solid core granule in furrow,” says Townsend.
The term BioStacked refers to the combina-tion of two biologicals in one package that work together to improve soybean yield performance. Nodulator N/T combines 532C strain of rhizo-bia and B. Subtilis for increased yields of up to two bushels per acre according to University of Guelph trials. These two bacteria work together to increase root growth, increase nodule growth and weight, and suppress seedling diseases for overall improved plant health.
South of Brandon, MB, Aaron Hargreaves has grown soybeans for six years on his farm. “We always double inoculate our soybeans. We’ve had a couple times where we’ve run out with 20 or 30 acres left and said ah, we won’t worry about it and we had a six to eight bushel yield decrease without the double inoculation,” says Hargreaves. “I never, ever tell anyone to grow soybeans without double inoculating, es-pecially on virgin soybean ground.”
Hargreaves, along with most growers, will do everything possible to produce a healthy crop and that starts with inoculants at seeding.
“A BioStacked inoculant is one of the first decisions growers need to address to improve nodulation to get a healthy, higher yielding soybean crop,” says Townsend. “With the rap-id expansion of soybeans in Western Canada,
growers should not question whether to inoculate or not; the only question that should be considered is which formulation and inoculant to use.”
For more informa-tion on BioStacked inoculants visit www.agsolutions.ca or talk to your retailer.
Cash flow and the ability to con-vert assets into cash to meet operating demands, living costs and debt obli-gations in a timely manner is called liquidity. Liquidity is defined as hav-ing enough current assets on-hand to cover all of the current liabilities outstanding at a given point in time. Liquidity is the second financial man-agement measurement parameter, and this information is reported on a net worth statement.
“Liquidity determines if a farm business would have enough to pay off all of its current liabilities if it cashed in all of its current assets,” says Rick Dehod, agricultural farm finance spe-cialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Another factor that comes into play when determin-ing liquidity is how easy it would be to convert current assets into cash. If the conversion could be quite imme-diate, the farm is said to be in a liquid position.”
The amount of liquidity is im-portant for the long-term survival of a business. Being in a liquid position allows a farm to operate as required and have cash available to pursue op-portunities and growth. A farm may be profitable, but if it is unable to pay the bills in an orderly manner, the business won’t survive for long.
“Other than selling an asset, cash can be obtained by borrowing against current assets,” says Dehod. “This is often in the form of an operating loan, a cash advance or a line of credit. A loan such as this provides the ability to carry inventory to take advantage of marketing opportunities or pur-chase inputs at opportune times. Cash is king, and trade creditors and banks don’t accept inventory as payment.”
Liquidity ratios are designed to measure a farm’s ability to pay its obligations. The key measurements of liquidity are the current ratio and working capital (Current Ratio = To-tal Current Farm Assets/Total Current
Farm Liabilities). Industry Bench-marks for Current Ratio are: Good >1.5; Caution 1.00 – 1.50; Not Good < 1.00.
“The current ratio gives an indi-cation of a farm’s ability to meet its cash obligations that are coming due within the next year,” says Dehod. “A value below 1.00 could indicate a de-veloping cash flow problem. Having a very high value may not be desirable either. It may indicate that levels are too high in assets tied up in conser-vative investments which have lower rates of return.
“The valuation problems are not as significant given the liquid nature of the assets. However, the time of the measure is important as the time of year may have an influence on inven-tory amounts and values. Knowing your business cycle and the variabil-ity of your revenue and expenses will increase your knowledge of what a good Current ratio for your farm is at different times of the year.”
This next measure that must be de-termined is working capital (Working Capital = Total Current Farm Assets - Total Current Farm Liabilities). Working capital and current ratio have similar issues. A positive value is desirable, but too large a value may indicate too many “lazy” assets are being held. Depending on enterprise of the business, and operation size, the cash flow of the business dictates the level of working capital required. A dairy with monthly cash flow doesn’t require a large amount of working capital due to monthly income where a Beef Cow Calf operation with basi-cally one large pay day a year would require more working capital in order to cash flow its operations through its fiscal year.
“A good stress test for working capital is to divide your total expense by 12,” says Dehod. “If you working capital is greater than three months’
expenses, your farm has the ability to meet its operating requirements in an orderly manner. This ratio enables an as-sessment of adequacy of working capital relative to business expenses, and more importantly, a buffer for risk and op-portunities. Care should be taken in adjusting for large inventories and/or valuation issues. Tracking working capi-tal by doing a projected monthly cash flow and comparing it to actuals, is still recommend.”
B e n c h m a r k i n g working capital and your current ratio to your past financials is a good management practice. It will give you the information to make good decisions from your own experiences.
Reduce risks and improve soybean performance with
double inoculation
CARRIER OF THE MONTHCongratulations to
Sylvia Sen
Susan Whitecotton, Circulation Supervisor,presents Sylvia with a $50 cheque
recognizing excellent service in delivering the newspaper for the month of Janurary.
NewsNewsPONOKA5019A Chipman Ave.Ponoka, Alberta
403.783.3311
Converting Assets into Cash - Liquidity
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PONOKA NEWS Page 25Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
14022UC0
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By Amelia Naismith
It’s easy to get lost in the music of Lost in Ponoka, the most recent indie rock album of the European-based band Ponoka, whose one mem-ber, Rick de Gier, hails from the small, rural town.
Gier is lead singer of the band and his under-stated voice is the perfect vessel for the soft and smooth musical journal of his life growing up and the painted backdrop of Ponoka.
Each song tells its own story, ranging from life in Ponoka back as it was when the rural town was smaller, quaint in its younger, dated days as the intangible life of the current generation’s parents and grandparents is commonly viewed to Dairy Queen parades, the Ponoka Hospital and Rodeo Queens. Yet, each song is a vital piece to a larger picture of an honest look at life in the town.
The album is not a glorified message of life in a small town. The honest songs instead act as a mirror looking down at the town, showing what was already there, both the good and the bad that comes with life.
Like with real life, Gier’s accurate and un-abashed portrayal of life in Ponoka will probably offend some, speaking to the sixth track, Alberta Hospital, with the lines the spirits they just stay by my side, coming through the window from Hobbema where they know all about doing time.
Yet the music of Ponoka isn’t out to damage the present, only take a look at the past. The beau-tiful songs are very lullaby-esque in their delivery, with just enough rock in their undertones to keep you from falling asleep.
The sleepy album is the perfect conductor to evoke wave after wave of your own personal memories of growing up in any small town and my own childhood made several appearances in my mind as I listened to the band’s music.
The familiar, relatable, nostalgia-inducing al-bum will catch people in a time-loop and there is no best song to this album as each is just as enjoy-able as the next.
READ ALL ABOUT IT IN THEREAD ALL ABOUT IT IN THEwww.ponokanews.com
Page 26 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
H&R Block Street Address
City Phone Number
H&R Block5010 - 51 Avenue
Ponoka, AB403-783-4221
Money Money MattersMattersA tale of manipulation
By Mustafa Eric
Following is an account of how and why gold prices declined by more than 35 per cent since mid April 2013 and the ongoing debate on the mystery surrounding the yellow metal.
*President Barack Obama met with mem-bers of the Financial Services Forum Thursday morning at 11 a.m. on April 11, 2013. They were expected to discuss the economy, the employment picture and the administration’s new budget pro-posal.
Here is the list of bank executives who were in attendance, according to a White House official:
Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and CEO Gold-man Sachs; Jacques Brand, CEO Deutsche Bank; Michael Corbat, Chief Executive Officer Citigroup; Jamie Dimon, Chairman, CEO and President J.P. Morgan Chase; Sergio Ermotti, CEO UBS; James Gorman, Chairman and CEO Mor-gan Stanley; Gerald Hassell, Chairman and CEO Bank of New York Mellon; Jay Hooley, Chair-man, President and CEO State Street Corp; Abby Johnson, President, Fidelity Financial Services; Steve Kandarian, Chairman of the Board, Presi-dent and CEO Metlife; Brian Moynihan, President and CEO Bank of America, Merrill Lynch; John Strangfeld, CEO, Prudential; John Stumpf, Chair-man, President and CEO Wells Fargo; Jim Weddle, Managing Partner, Edward Jones; Bob Benmos-che, President and CEO American International Group AIG. (as reported by Wall Street Journal)
*On April 12, 2013 gold prices plunged by 15 per cent within two hours, the biggest fall in the price of the precious metal in the last 33 years. On that day, Chinese financial markets were closed due to a traditional holiday.
*”The Fed’s policy of monetizing one trillion dollars of bonds annually put pressure on the US dollar, the value of which declined in terms of gold. When gold hit $1,900 per ounce in 2011, the Fed-eral Reserve realized that $2,000 per ounce could have a psychological impact that would spread into the dollar’s exchange rate with other curren-cies, resulting in a run on the dollar as both foreign and domestic holders sold dollars to avoid the fall in value. Once this realization hit, the manipula-
tion of the gold price moved beyond central bank leasing of gold to bullion dealers in order to create an artificial market supply to absorb demand that otherwise would have pushed gold prices higher.
“This manipulation by the Fed involves the short-selling of uncovered Comex gold futures. “Uncovered” means that these are contracts that are sold without any underlying physical gold to deliver if the buyer on the other side decides to ask for delivery. This is also known as “naked short selling.” The execution of the manipulative trading is conducted through one of the major gold futures trading banks, such as JPMorganChase, HSBC, and Bank of Nova Scotia.”
Paul Craig Roberts (Assistant Secretary of the Treasury during President Reagan’s first term)
*The financial world was shocked this month (February 2013) by a demand from Germany’s Bundesbank to repatriate a large portion of its gold reserves held abroad. By 2020, Germany wants 50% of its total gold reserves back in Frankfurt – including 300 tons from the Federal Reserve. The Bundesbank’s announcement comes just three months after the Fed refused to submit to an audit of its holdings on Germany’s behalf. One cannot help but wonder if the refusal triggered the de-mand.
Peter Schiff (investor/financial advisor) ar-ticle on Global research website
” Germany won’t ever see its gold again… Central Banks, such as the FED, where most of the reserves had been deposited, had lent the gold to U.S. Banks such as Goldman Sachs and JP Mor-gan.
The gold has been used in the market to lower the gold price and the FED has received securities in exchange…. Germany won´t ever see that gold again, because it is safely kept in my accounts and the accounts of our investors”.
July 2013, the US hedge-fund manager William Kaye quoted by the NSNBC
Making your retirement savings last
Congratulations, you’ve made it to retire-ment. After scrimping and saving through your working years, you can now enjoy the fruits of your labour — just make sure you spend it wisely and make it last. The financial experts from Desjardins Group have some tips to help you get started.
Supplemental pen-sion plan (SPP)
• Also known as a corporate pension fund, it allows you to receive either an immediate or a deferred pension, based on the typical re-tirement age. The most appropriate decision about this depends on whether:
• You’re eligi-ble for a retirement pension without an ac-tuarial reduction, don’t hesitate–choose the im-mediate annuity.
• The pension is reduced by a fixed rate of less than a 6% penalty per year of early payment, im-
mediate annuities are often more advanta-geous.
• The pension is re-duced by 6% per year; the two choices are generally equivalent. It is also a good idea to find out if the deferred pension will be indexed between the time of the request and the start of the payments.
Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
If you have contrib-uted enough, you can request your retirement pension when you turn 60 or wait until you’re 65. If you’re unsure on the best choice for you, your financial advisor can show you the ben-efits of retiring early, at 65 or later.
Old age security pension (OASP)
This pension is pay-able at the age of 65, and there is no benefit in not requesting it. It should be noted that as soon as your gross personal income (in-cluding the OASP)
exceeds $69,000, you may be required to re-pay a portion of your pension benefits.
Registered retire-ment income fund (RRIF)
Starting at 71 years of age, you must con-vert your RRSPs to RRIFs. If possible, try to limit your withdraw-als to the mandatory minimum to conserve your registered capital.
Life income fund (LIF)
Because the life income fund has with-drawal constraints (ceilings that cannot be exceeded), it is gener-ally best to withdraw the maximum possible from the LIF before withdrawing from your other registered savings plans.
To ensure your suc-cess, be sure to discuss these points with your financial advisor:
• Have another look at your investor profile to verify your level of tolerance for risk as well as your comfort level with certain in-vestments
• Realistically eval-uate the lifestyle you wish to maintain, also taking into account your desire to leave an inheritance to loved ones
• Think about split-ting your income and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) with your spouse to reduce the amount you pay in taxes
• Be mindful of the taxation level of your investment income
• Avoid unnecessary debt by making a bud-get and sticking to it
For more retirement planning tips and calcu-lators, visit Desjardins Group at www.desjar-dins.com.
March 3 is the RRSP Deadline!
Call Danielle our Financial Services Manager at 403-783-7285 and book an appointment today
New BMO hours are Monday to Friday 9:30 – 5:00
Come join us on Friday February 14 for
Customer Appreciation Day
PONOKA NEWS Page 27Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Money Money MattersMattersThe tricks of the financial sector
By Mustafa Eric
The following is the beginning of the intro-duction to an academic research paper’s findings on the impact of the financial sector on the macro economy:
“ …there is a positive relationship between the size of the financial system and economic growth, but it also shows that, at high levels of financial depth, more finance is associated with less growth. This non-monotonic relationship between eco-nomic growth and the size of the financial sector is consistent with the hypothesis that there can be “too much” finance and can explain the recent finding of a vanishing effect of financial depth on economic growth.”
The authors of the report are Jean-Louis Ar-cand, Enrico Berkes and Ugo Panizza and the report was published in 2012 by non-other than the research department of the International Monetary Fund, the guardian of the proper functioning of the capitalist system.
The authors did not forget to insert the follow-ing quote from late economist James Tobin to their introduction: “...we are throwing more and more of our resources, including the cream of our youth, into financial activities remote from the production of goods and services, into activities that generate high private rewards disproportionate to their social productivity.”
The potential of the harm that finance can do to the real – supply side – economy was predict-ed as far back as 1867 by Karl Marx in the third volume of his famous (or infamous, depending on where one stands) work, “The Capital – A Critique of the Political Economy”, but that prediction was never taken seriously as the author of the idea was dismissed as an ideologue rather than a competent theoretician of the economic system.
Fast forward to the present, the authors of the study say “… we find that there is a positive and robust correlation between financial depth and economic growth in countries with small and in-termediate financial sectors, but we also show that there is a threshold (which we estimate to be at around 80-100% of GDP) above which finance starts having a negative effect on economic growth.”
Financial sector thrives on indebtedness, the bigger the mountain of debt, the bigger the size profits flowing to the coffers of bankers and finan-cial institutions.
As the time passes, despite (and because of) the relative decline of the household income in propor-tion to GDP, the indebtedness grows. According to the most recent figures, Canadian consumers have
racked up a total of $ 1,430 billion of debt, that is close to one and a half trillion dollars.
As for the US, just another piece of data: As compared to 40 per cent of GDP in 1960, leverag-ing by private sector (borrowing to inflate the size of financial operations) has reached 80 per cent of
the GDP in 2013.In a low interest rate environment, these levels
of indebtedness may be sustainable, but interest rates are not cast in iron and they will someday begin to rise and everyone should be prepared for those days.
14022OS0
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Page 28 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
VJV MARKET REPORTMARKET REPORT FEBRUARY 5, 2014
On Wednesday, February 5, 2014- 2427 head of cattle went through our rings &
260 head on the Canadian Satellite sale - TOTAL -2687
The year began with great funTash SierpinskiClub ReporterPonoka 4-H Renegade Riders
It’s been a bit quiet in our club for activities. A few of us managed to brave the freezing temps and attend Ponoka District 4-H Fun Day at Usona on Jan. 4. Despite the cold, cold weather about 37 of us 4-H members showed up. It was still a lot of fun. We had a mini curling game, hockey stick game, calf sled races, snow painting, cookie decorating, and games. Thank you to Usona Hall for donating the hall for this day. It is greatly appreciated.
On Jan. 26 we held our club’s Public Speaking competition at the Hudson Greene Community Ac-tivity Center. All the members and the cleaver kids did an awesome job. Moving onto Zones for Public Speaking for our club on Feb. 23 are for intermediates Tash Sierpinski and Aylssa Sinnott; for seniors Kate Correia and Kayla Dueck. Good luck to our members as well to all the other 4-H club members that are moving on.
We held our club ride on Feb 2 at Vic Almonds
arena. We are still sharpening our showmanship skills as well as working on improving our horsemanship skills.
Our club is excited to take part in the 4-H Night at the Rebels game in Red Deer on Saturday, Feb. 15. There should be well over 300 4-H’ers in the crowd.
Our chocolate fundraising is still on the go for a few more weeks. The girls in our club are excited to get their new show shirts.
Some of our leaders/project leaders are headed to PELF on Feb 21 – 23 at the 4-H Center at Battle Lake.
Here are some funny horse facts and trivia for you:
Did you know that the horse’s brain is about the size of a baked potato?
Some of the equine family’s closest relatives are tapirs and the rhinoceros.
A horse can poop up to 14 times a day! Adult female horses (mares) usually have 36
teeth. A mare may have up to 40 teeth if she happens to have any canine teeth, which is possible but less common. Adult males have between 40 and 44 teeth. (These figures do not include wolf teeth.)
Dancing GamesCanadian Minister of
Agriculture, Gerry Ritz, announced in the first week of February that a new stream of data will have to be reported by the railroads so as to in-crease transparency in the industry and hope-fully alleviate some of the frustration currently held by many. Some of the new requirements are focused around weekly railcar order fulfillment, including cancellations, car orders accepted by railroads, and car orders by all grain companies. Other detailed information proposed include grain railroad traffic to various destina-tions, weekly port terminal unloading performance, and data on arrival and loading times. Ultimately, in my opin-ion, this “big data” plan is the right move and I agree with Minister Ritz that the proposal will help improve “all aspects” of the supply chain, not just the rail-roads. Putting the plan into action will be the real challenge though, especially since 3,000 of C.N. railroad’s conduc-tors, yard workers, and other employees almost went on strike. At the end of the day, the supply chain is like a record at a high school dance: if it’s broken, no one is going to get out on the dance floor and make any moves.
If Statistics Canada is right, there’s a lot of grain still out there: as of Decem-ber 31st, 2013, total grain still available is up almost 30 per cent from a year ago as big yields this fall significantly in-creased the amount grain held on-farm. Canola stocks came in at a record 12.6 million tonnes, more than 55 percent higher the 8.1 million tonnes held at this time last year, and practically 93 per cent of this inventory is still being held in storage by farmers! (The real question is how much of it is spoken for?) Total wheat stocks rose to a 20-year high of 28.4 million tonnes, up almost 38 per cent year-over-year, while the supply of oats is up almost 40 per cent to from 2012 with 2.9 million tonnes still avail-able. Rounding the complex out, barley stocks are up 27 per cent to 6.7 million
tonnes, peas are up seven per cent to 2.2 million tonnes, flax available sup-ply is up almost 23 per cent to 505,000 tonnes, while lentils, rye, and canary seed stocks are all down 23, 38, and 28 per cent respectively to 1.14 million, 122,000, and 81,000 tonnes.
All this being said, I attended the Saskatch-ewan Ag Trade Summit February 4th and 5th in Saskatoon and the most consistently-discussed
topic was (surprise, surprise!) transpor-tation. As grain railcars are reportedly delayed four-to-five weeks on C.P. lines and six-to-eight weeks on C.N.’s lines, the opportunity to move grain via grain railcars is limited. The other most con-sistently-discussed thing heard at the Summit was cultivating more relation-ships through more conversation and collaboration. Everyone from Canadian Ambassadors to Canadian Trade Com-missioners to producer groups to grain company executives – they all touched on opening dialogues and asking ques-tions. Another theme heard often was putting boots on the ground in markets that Canada is looking to build more of a presence in. This means going to the likes of Indonesia to shake hands and listen to what these markets are looking for. In all reality, going dancing can be fun, but it’s a lot more fun if you have a partner.
To growth,Brennan Turner
President, FarmLead.comBrennan Turner is originally from
Foam Lake, SK, where his family start-ed farming the land in the 1920s. After completing his degree in economics from Yale University and then playing some pro hockey, Mr. Turner spent some time working in finance before starting Farm-Lead.com, a risk-free, transparent online and now mobile grain marketplace (app available for iOS & Android). His weekly column is a summary of his free, daily market note, the FarmLead Break-fast Brief. He can be reached via email ([email protected]) or phone (1-855-332-7653).
Farmers optimistic about hay and pasture AFSC Reminds Producers of February 28
Deadline to Insure Hay and PastureAs the February 28 deadline approaches for
Ponoka County farmers to insure their pasture and hay land this year, above-average to normal snow cover across most of the province has many livestock producers feeling hopeful about the potential growth they’ll get on their hay and pasture once the snow melts this spring.
“We had a dry fall in many parts of the province with very limited moisture in September and October, but the producers I talk to are feeling encouraged by the amount of snow we’ve gotten so far this winter,” says Barry Yaremcio, a provincial beef and forage specialist with the Alberta Ag-Info Centre.
Dry Soil Conditions Beneath the SnowWhile the deep snow has been challenging for
some producers – preventing cattle from swath graz-ing or winter grazing earlier in the season than usual – it should help offset dry soil conditions that lie be-neath the snow in many regions – depending on how it melts, says Yaremcio.
“If we get a slow melt and the ground takes up most of the moisture, it should help kick-start growth on our hay and pastures this spring. But if we get a quick melt, most of that moisture will likely run off and collect in the sloughs and creeks with minimal benefit to the dry soil,” he explains, adding 10 inches of snow is equal to about one inch of water.
$4.4 Million Paid on Hay and Pasture Insur-ance Claims
Last year, dry conditions in early spring and late summer triggered more than $4.4 million in hay and pasture insurance claims in some areas across the province, including Ponoka County, says John Kresowaty, with Agriculture Financial Services Cor-poration (AFSC). AFSC is the Crown corporation that provides crop insurance to Alberta farmers on behalf of the provincial and federal governments.
“When the rain finally came in late May and June, we ended up with strong growth on hay and pasture in most regions,” says Kresowaty. He notes last year’s total payout is among the lowest in more than a decade due to favourable precipitation and good growing conditions in June and July. The high-est payout years for hay and pasture insurance were during the droughts of 2009 when $56 million was paid in claims, and 2002 when $89 million was paid out.
In Ponoka County, provincial moisture maps show that soil moisture beneath the snow as of late January is generally moderately low to low. Snow cover is generally high to extremely high.
Perennial hay and pasture crops depend on plenty
of moisture early in the spring for healthy growth, says Grant Lastiwka, a provincial livestock for-age business specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD). “As a general rule, 70 to 90 per cent of the yield potential of pasture and rangeland is determined by early June across south-ern Alberta, and by early July across the rest of the province,” he explains. So while snow melt can help, getting adequate spring moisture and rainfall during April, May, and June ultimately determines whether producers will get good production on their hay and pasture each year, says Lastiwka.
Of course, nobody can predict what will happen this spring, says ARD provincial soil moisture spe-cialist, Ralph Wright. “It could be wet or the snow could melt quickly and things could turn hot and dry. If it’s a cold spring, the snow could linger, delaying hay and pasture growth. There are still two months of winter left. Anything’s possible. It’s really a wait-and-see game because weather is so random,” says Wright.
Unpredictable weather is the biggest reason Al-berta producers insure about 7.5 million acres of hay and pasture across the province every year through AFSC Perennial Insurance programs, says Kreso-waty.
Brennan Turner FarmLead Breakfast Brief
PONOKA NEWS Page 29Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
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Broncs basketball full steam ahead
By Mustafa Eric
Senior Broncs basketball teams had a successful day in their league fixtures on Tuesday, Feb, 4, when both teams scored handsomely against the visitors from Sylvan Lake with the girls winning 41-29 and the boys with a whopping 81-38.
In the first game, senior Broncs girls had a spectac-ular start in the first period with well-coordinated ball movement and efficient scoring helping the local side to open up a substantial lead that would allow the team to cushion their numerous turnovers and unforced errors in the latter part of the game. When the buzzer went off at the end of the first half, the score was 23-9 in favor of the Broncs.
After the halftime break, there was a different oppo-sition in the court: Senior Laker girls returned from their locker room to the game with a determination to raise the stakes. A steadfast defensive by the visiting team left the hosts with little opportunity to score with eight minutes in the third period going without any score for the Broncs girls. At the end of the third period, the score was 27 for the hosts and 20 for the visitors.
With the beginning of the fourth period, Lakers in-tensified their pressure on Ponoka girls by maintaining man-to-man defense on both halves of the court. But the Broncs girls, having regrouped and pulled themselves together, managed to overcome the intense defensive effort of Lakers and started scoring more efficiently to finish the game in the lead.
“The girls played an amazing first half and showed the Lakers that we’re a young team but we fight hard,” said Sydni Seibel, head coach for senior Broncs girls.
“They handled the ball well and worked the floor using proper plays and always looking for the open shot. I’m really proud of them for stepping it up and
showing off what they all know.”As for the boys’ game, it was almost a foregone
conclusion from the first few minutes of the game. Se-nior Broncs boys dominated the paint in their half of the court and picked up quite a number of offensive re-bounds to open up a strong lead at the end of the first period: 21-8
Their dominance of the court continued with fast-breaks and more points in the paint in the remaining part of the game, which the hosts completed without feeling really challenged.
“Although we didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, I felt we played strong defence for most of the game,“ said Blaine Haines, head coach senior Bronc boys.
“Sylvan is a very young team, but I was impressed with their work ethic. The Lakers were tenacious on the boards.”
Senior Broncs boys remain undefeated in the cen-tral zone and are looking forward to a successful playoff season.
“The Broncs are progressing well this season. The boys are hungry and continue to want to improve as a unit as we get closer to playoffs in March,” Blaines said.
As for tournaments, Broncs lost to Taber (ranked #2 in the Province in 3A) in their tournament final 88-84 the weekend before last.
“It was one heck of a battle in hostile territory. As their coaches, we were very proud of the effort our team put in, even though we came up a tad short,” said Blaines. .
Senior Broncs boys played at a Lethbridge tourna-ment last weekend and the girls were scheduled to play at a tournament in Lloyds.
No information was available on the tournament re-sults as Ponoka News went to print on Tuesday.
Tavis Lee of Senior Broncs boys shoots over the de-fending Lakers player as Ethan Minde (11) follows the ball during the Lakers’ game which ended with a 81-38 win for the PSC on Tuesday, Feb 4.
Broncs’ Kendyl Stretch jumps for a shot at in the Lakers’ rim as Lindsey Gartner of the PSC girls prepare for a follow-up rebound during the league game at St. Augustine school last on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Photo by Mustafa Eric
St. Augustine’s Noah Hackett races by Ponoka Elementary School’s Harrison Clarke during the junior boys’ Feb. 3 game.
Photo by Amelia Naismith
Page 30 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Plus Annual General MeetingThursday, February 27 7:00 PM
Ponoka Legion AuditoriumCall Michelle at 403-783-4773
Or see our Ponoka Soccer page on Facebookwww.ponokasoccer.ca
Please bring a jersey deposit, cheque or cash, ($50.00) for U12-U18 age groups.
Ponoka earns gold and bronze medals at Alberta Winter Games
By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Two Ponoka athletes have re-turned jubilant from their strong performance at the Alberta Winter Games (AWG).
Speed skater Tess Pearman and figure skater Skye Whitford both re-turned with medals from the games Feb. 6 to 9 in Banff and Canmore.
Pearman, 15, who won silver in the 2012 AWG, returned with gold this time, which was almost lost her chance at gold. She skated in the 200m, 400m, 1,500m, 3,000m and relay race and came second in her first two races on Feb. 6. Pearman earned gold overall and gold in the relay event.
The biggest challenge was skat-
ing on an outdoor rink in minus 20 degrees C temperatures. Speed skat-ers could be seen wearing mitts, sweatshirts and jackets while they raced against each other.
That did not stop Pearman from placing second in the 400m and 1,500m races. She approached those races more cautiously due to tight corners on the track.
“I had to go wider on the corner and the girl that was right behind me went in and she won it (both 400m and 3000m),” explained Pearman.
A racer from Canmore took ad-vantage of Pearman’s hesitation. “I knew I should have won them both.”
For the 200m and 3,000, races she pushed herself to perform better
Skye Whitford poses with her bronze medal after her free skate performance at the Alberta Win-ter Games in Banff and Canmore last week.
Photo courtesy of the Alberta Winter Games
Speed skater Tess Pearman grimaces as she takes the lead in a speed skating event during the Alberta Winter Games last week. She won gold for the individual and replay events.
Photo by Jonathan Huyer
and win. A good start in the 200m heat and keep-ing her speed up earned Pearman a win.
During the 3,000m race, Pearman worked closely with another speed skater who took turns leading the pack with the Ponoka speed skater. A misunderstanding over how many laps were left in the race helped Pearman win but created extra work for her.
“I actually thought they said six laps to go, but they actually said 10 laps to go. So I was sprinting,” explained Pearman.
She took the corners tight and kept the lead for 10 long laps. “I just went and I wasn’t really listening to anyone.”
For Whitford, 14, her first winter games com-petition was a nerve-wracking event but she still enjoyed the challenge. “It was a really amazing experience and different than all the other com-petitions.”
Whitford was nervous enough that she was unsure if she would be able to compete, but
seeing her family and friends in the stands sup-porting her efforts helped her stay the course.
Despite some worry, Whitford was able to put forward a relatively strong performance. She competed against 16 other girls in her two-minute free skate routine, which she had been practicing since the summer.
The two-minute routine was practiced five days a week.
The performance was nearly flawless except for one moment where Whitford had to drop her hand down to prevent her from falling. Despite the slip, she looks forward to the potential of competing in future winter games.
More Alberta Winter Games coverage com-ing up in next week’s edition of Ponoka News.
“It was a really amazing experience and different than all
Every year, over 70,000 boys and girls play Timbits
Hockey, where they learn the skills of the game, and
share moments with family and friends. Tim Hortons
is proud to support Timbits Hockey right here in
Ponoka, where the first goal is having fun.
Now that’s close: Devon Peterson, of the Big Country Sabres, gets a close look at a puck while protecting the net during the Wedin’s Warriors and Big Country Sabres Novice tournament last weekend.
Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Minor hockey teams gather wins and losses in the final stretch
By Amelia Naismith
As the minor hockey season draws nearer to its close, the Ponoka and Maskwacis teams continue bringing in a mix of wins and losses.
Atom Tier 1 Maskwacis Atom A Chiefs lost their Feb. 9 away game against the Red Deer Shera-ton Atoms, 16-4.
Kihew Lee scored twice and Jason Makinaw Jr. and Damian Omeasoo nabbed one goal each.
Atom Tier 3 Ponoka Atom A won 4-2 dur-ing their Feb. 6 game against the Eckville Atom B Eagles.
Levi Busat earned a hat trick and Braedan Brouilette brought the number to four.
On Feb. 9 the Ponoka team beat Bentley 10-2 in a home game. Levi Busat scored four times while Colter Bresee, Gavin Allen-Prefontaine and Braeden Brouilette all scored twice.
Atom Tier 5 Maskwacis Atom B beat the La-combe Atom C Rockets in a Feb. 8 away game, 8-5.
Alex Soosay scored three times, Kye Minde and Geryn Bull scored twice and Xain Swampy earned one goal.
The following day Maskwacis beat the Ponoka Atom B team 4-3 in a home game.
For Maskwacis Kye Minde, Alysik Buffalo, Geryn Bull and Kole Rain-Wolfe were the team’s scorers. On the Ponoka side Ashton Bandet scored twice and Max Underhill brought the final number to three.
Peewee Tier 1 Ponoka Peewee A lost 8-5 against the Bentley Peewee A Bruins.
Jared Bussiere, Jayden Nokohoo, Reagan Rab-bit, Owen Feragen and Aiden Gratton all scored once during the Feb. 7 home game.
The Mackwacis Peewee A Chiefs lost 13-3 on Feb. 8 to the Thunderstars Peewee A team on Feb. 8.
Carson Baptiste scored twice and Nolan Twins scored once.
Peewee Tier 4 Ponoka Peewee B lost 11-1 against Sedgwick Peewee, Feb. 8. Kaiden Thomson scored the team’s sole goal.
The next day Ponoka lost again to Bentley, 9-2. Kaiden Thomas and Travis Hyink both scored once.
Bantam Tier 1 Maskwacis Bantam A beat the Rocky Raiders 15-2 during their Feb. 7 away game.
Nimkees Bailey-Lee earned five goals, Chevazz Rabbit and Dylan Soosay scored twice, and Jakobi Omeasoo, Tyrone Potts, Trentin Wolfe and William Littlechild each scored once.
Bantam Tier 2 Ponoka Bantam lost to the
Rimbey Bantam Renegades on Feb. 7, 5-3. Cooper Jones scored all the goals for the team.
On Feb. 8 Stettler 2-1 defeated Ponoka in a home game. Noah Spelrem was the single scorer.
The following day they won their away game against Camrose, 4-2. Joshua Vold, Sam Neath, Noah Spelrem and Rian vanDerwesthuizen all scored once.
Midget Tier 1 Ponoka Midget Wolves won their Feb. 7 home game against Stettler, 4-3.
Jared Davis and James Jansen both scored once, Kellyn Pritchard scored twice.
Midget Tier 3 Ponoka Midget B beat West Country midget Chiefs 6-3 on Feb. 7.
Jarret Henderson, Pierre Clemmer, James Lea and Shawn Wilton each scored once while Shane Epp scored twice.
On Feb. 8 Ponoka tromped Innisfail Fourlane Flyers in a 12-6 home game. Jarret Henderson scored four times, Braeden Korchiski and Pierre Clemmer scored twice, and James Lea, Shane Epp, Lane Jones and Shawn Wilton each scored once.
The next day the Ponoka B team also beat Red Deer Can Pro Hockey, 2-1. Shane Epp and Jarret Henderson scored once each.
Midget Tier 4 Maskwacis Midget B faced on against the Rocky Midget B team on Feb. 7. Neither team scored.
On Feb. 9 Maskwacis lost to the Sylvan Lake Midget B2 Lakers 17-4 in an away game. Larenz Saddleback scored twice while Jacobi Buffalo and Larenzo Ermineskin both scored once.
Atom Female Maskwacis girls lost 16-0 to Camrose in a Feb. 8 away game.
On Feb. 9 the girls lost 7-4 in another away game against Stettler. Jayliese Swampy-Montour scored three times and Taylynn Littlepoplar scored once.
Peewee Female Maskwacis Peewee Female team was defeated 7-1 by the Sylvan Lake Atom/Peewee Female Lakers on Feb. 8. Shelisha Baptiste scored the team’s only goal during the away game.
Bantam/Midget Maskwacis Midget Females lost 7-1 against Leduc during a Feb. 7 away game. Kelli Ward was the only scorer for Maskwacis.
Lacoka Midget Female Rockets beat the Leduc Midget team in an away game, 3-1. Dani-ca Poison, Kallie Nelson and Robyn Arnold each scored once.
On Feb. 9 the Maskwacis Bantam team lost 16-0 to the Sylvan Lake Bantam/Midget Lakers in an away game.
Exhausted Stampeders lose to Wranglers By Amelia Naismith
With only two away games left in their season, the Ponoka Stamped-ers lost their last home game to the Blackfalds Wranglers.
The Wranglers shut the Stamped-ers out 11-0 during the Feb. 9 game. “They showed up and we didn’t,” said head coach Mark Dobler.
Dobler says having played three games over the weekend in a span of 48 hours took its toll on the boys; however, he feels being tired isn’t an excuse for not playing hard. “You have to battle through it.”
Before playing Blackfalds the Stampeders faced off against the Red
Deer on Saturday and Mountainview Friday evening.
“We played pretty good on Fri-day, we battled hard,” said Dobler. He says, during that game there was only six minutes his team wasn’t playing well and in that time the Mountainview Colts were able to score five times.
On Saturday, during the third period, the Stampeders were able to bring their score to a 5-5 tie. How-ever, Red Deer Vipers were able to grab another two goals before the final whistle.
The Stampeders play again Feb. 15 in Coaldale and on Feb. 16 in Medicine Hat.
Brad Zimmerman smashes a Blackfalds player into the boards during the Stampeders last home game of the season, Feb. 9.
Photo by Amelia Naismith
CLASSIFIEDS
FAMILY DAYHours & Deadlines
OFFICE & PHONES CLOSED Monday February 17, 2014
Red Deer AdvocatePublication dates:
SAT.FEB. 15TUES. FEB. 18
Deadline is: FRI. FEB 14, 5 p.m.
Red Deer Life SundayPublication date:FEB. 16
Deadline is: FRI. FEB 14, 2 p.m.
Central AB LifePublication date: THURS. FEB. 20Deadline is: FRI. FEB 14, 5 p.m.
REGLINArlene Grace Reglin from the community of Ponoka A l b e r t a p a s s e d a w a y peacefully on February 7, 2014 at Westpark Lodge Red Deer. Arlene will be fondly remembered for her caring nature, her passion to enjoy each day to its fullest, caring for others before herse l f and her contagious smile that all recognized her for. Arlene was born on October 24, 1922. She was predeceased
by her husband Gustav Reglin, daughter Sharon Urban and son Bruce Reglin. She is survived by her two children Yvonne (Bob) Blair of Penhold, Doug Reglin of Calgary and grandchildren Landon (Natalie) Reglin, Lacombe; Dana (Ryan) Smyl, St. Paul; Geoffrey Urban, Vancouver. She is also survived by five great grandchildren Ethan, Chloe Reglin; Quinn, Corwyn and Piper Smyl. There will be a memorial celebration in Arlene’s honor at the Wombold Funeral Home Feb 14 2014 at 1:00. As an expression of sympathy donations may be made to Westpark Lodge, Rimoka Lodge Foundation or a charity of your choice. May she rest in peace, we will never forget the great friend, wife and mother she was.
RUTHIE KELLY
Born August 14, 1931 in Lashburn, Saskatchewan.Passed away November 27, 2013 at her long time residence of Northcott Nursing Home.Ruthie is survived by her brother Reg of Stoney Plain; and numerous nieces and nephews.A heartfelt thanks goes to the staff at Northcott for the care, attention and love they showed Ruthie over the years.
Peter LockridgeFebruary 26, 1959 - February 5, 2012
No farewell words were spokenNo time to say good-bye.
You were gone before we knew it,And only God knows why.
Our hearts still ache in sadness,And secret tears still flow.What it meant to lose you
No one will ever know.
Badly missed and forever loved,Vivian, Gene, Victoria, Mom and Family
Learn how Bill C-18Learn how Bill C-18threatens farmers’threatens farmers’
rights to save seedrights to save seed..The National Farmers UnionThe National Farmers Union
is hosting an information is hosting an information session on:session on:
Thursday, February 13Thursday, February 13 @ 7 pm @ 7 pm (Bluffton Hall)(Bluffton Hall)
URGENT!
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Please give generously when your neighbour knocks at your door during Heart Month.
Do you want a rewarding career with plenty of challenges in an
international company?Cyntech Construction Ltd. is looking for a
Fabrication Plant Manager for their Canadian operations located in Calgary, Alberta. The Fabrication Plant Manager is responsible for supervising and coordinating the work of assigned skilled personnel engaged in
plant operations that include the following activities: cutting, welding, fabrication,
inventory, fi nishing, loading, and materials handling.
Cyntech Construction Ltd. a division of Keller Canada is a global leader in the manufacture
of helical (screw) piles, anchors, and related products used in pipeline, general construction, and electricity transmission
industries. Keller is the world’s largest independent ground engineering contractor with operations in more than 30 countries,
roughly 7,000 employees and annual revenues of approximately $2 billion (CDN).
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefi ts package as well as participation in
our Company profi t sharing plan. We foster a relaxed offi ce environment with a business
casual dress code. Come and see what Cyntech is all about!
If interested, please submit yourcover letter and resume to:
We appreciate interest from all candidates but only qualifi ed candidates will be
contacted.
TOWN OF PONOKAEmployment Opportunity
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, this new position is responsible for the planning, preparation and delivery of communications for the Town of Ponoka to ensure citizens are well informed and to keep Council and administration advised of public opinions. In this permanent part-time position (approx. 3 days/week), the incumbent will be responsible for the development and implementation of a communications strategy for the Town including coordination with Town departments, external partners and in obtaining community feedback.
Duties and responsibilities of this position include:• Develop, implement and align communication plans and strategies to
support the objectives and services of the Town.• Provide strategic communications tools, using best practices to support
administration to proactively identify and mitigate issues.• Coordinate and manage the Town’s print, electronic, radio and TV
advertising for all departments.• Draft and edit a variety of communication materials, including
newsletter, web copy and information documents.• Write/edit news releases, speeches, briefi ngs and other
communications materials as appropriate.
To be effective in the performance of this position, an individual would require the following knowledge and skills:
• A degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related fi eld with a minimum of fi ve years related experience, preferably in a municipal setting.
• Ability to lead Town communication initiatives.• Excellent written and oral communication skills.• Excellent computer program, internet and office management skills.
The successful candidate will be required to submit a satisfactory Criminal Record Check. To obtain a copy of the position description, please contact Betty Quinlan, Acting Chief Administrative Officer at (403)783-0129.Submit resumes to:
ATTENTION: Betty QuinlanActing Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Ponoka
is currently hiring teachers and administrators for the 2014-15 school year
we are a fully accredited Alberta Education International School tax free salary with housing, airfare, and extras paid for 2 hrs of prep time /day for teachers; small classes; great students amazing travel opportunities and cultural experiences outstanding personal and professional growth opportunities
WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?
PONOKA NEWS Page 33Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
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JOURNALISTS,Graphic Artists, Marketing and more. Alberta’s weekly newspapers are looking
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PETROFIELD Industries, the Leader in manufacturingHydrovac trucks, is acceptingresumes for the following positions:* General Labourers* Industrial Painters* Sandblasters* Material Handler* Automotive Electrical Technician* Journeyman Welder / Apprentice* 2nd Yr Welder with Aluminum experience
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The Maskwacis Employment Center (MEC), located in Maskwacis, Alberta, is a First Nations‘ organization committed to employment and career advancement for Maskwacis residents. MEC is seeking candidates for three types of staff positions. Each successful candidate will require a valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a vehicle for personal job-related transportation in and around Maskwacis.
COORDINATOR OF ENHANCED SERVICE DELIVERY (ESD) INITIATIVES (Position # A)MEC is supporting the Samson Cree Nation, the Louis Bull Tribe and the Ermineskin Cree Nation to expedite Enhanced Service Delivery (ESD) initiatives to increase the success in employment of 18 to 24 year old Income Support recipients. Reporting to the Manager of MEC, the Coordinator of Enhanced Service Delivery (ESD) Initiatives is responsible for proactive engagement with the participating First Nations, as well as for developing and managing the associated ESD management systems within MEC.
The successful candidate will have a post-secondary degree and fi ve years related experience or equivalent, preferably in a First Nations environment.
ENHANCED SERVICE DELIVERY (ESD) CAREER & EMPLOYMENT ADVISOR (Position # B)
Deployed at the First Nations’ offi ces, and reporting to their Social Program Directors, the Enhanced Service Delivery Career & Employment Advisor (CEA) is a proactive professional who undertakes case management of 18 to 24 year old Income Support clients to support their transition to education or employment.
Successful candidates will have a at least a two-year diploma in a related fi eld and at least two years’ work experience in human services in a First Nations’ environment.
EMPLOYER LIAISON (Position #C)
Reporting to the Manager of MEC, the Employer Liaison establishes connections with regional employers and local First Nations’ Social & Human Resource Development staff to expedite strategies and actions to connect job seekers in the Maskwacis community with employers. Through networking and collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, the Employer Liaison is responsible for collecting and disseminating local, regional and provincial labour market information; and helping employers to fi ll job vacancies with Maskwacis members.
The successful candidate will have at least a two-year diploma in business, communications, social work or a related fi eld, excellent communications skills and two years’ related experience, preferably in a First Nations environment.
A competitive compensation and benefi t program is offered consistent with positions of these types. Candidates are encouraged to reply in confi dence by the closing date of February 14, 2014, quoting the position number(s) for which they are applying, to MEC at:
Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer the Human Resources Officer is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, controlling and analyzing the human resources functions. This is a new permanent part-time position and the incumbent will work approximately 3 days per week.
Duties and responsibilities of this position are to:• Provide support to Directors and managers through consultation
and review of policies, procedures and new initiatives.• Strategically plan for the Town’s human capital needs in collaboration
with Town management staff. • Develop and implement human resources programs and procedures
that optimize staffing and align workforce with strategic and operational goals.
• Human resources programs include policy development, compensation, employee relations, workforce planning, training, organizational development, performance management, and recruitment & retention.
To be effective in the performance of this position, an individual would require the following knowledge and skills:
• Minimum three to fi ve years of progressively responsible human resources generalist experience, preferably within a Municipal Government setting.
• CHRP designation is required. • Sound knowledge of employment and labour legislation, including
but not limited to Employment Standards Act (Alberta), Alberta Human Rights, FOIP, and principles and practices of human resources administration.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills matched with the ability to negotiate and build relationships with key stakeholders as well as an ability to interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
The successful candidate will be required to submit a satisfactory Criminal Record Check.
To obtain a copy of the position description, please contact Betty Quinlan, Acting Chief Administrative Officer at (403)783-0129.
Please submit resumes to:ATTENTION: Betty Quinlan
Acting Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Ponoka5102 – 48 Avenue, PONOKA, AB T4J 1P7
• General Labourers(Willing to work away from home)
Manufacturers of Annugas Production EnhancerFax resume to main office
(780) 361-23553601 - 48 St., Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 3N9Ph: 1-866-266-8427 or (780) 361-2350Only candidates selected will be contacted for interview.
Reliable/Self motivatedClean drivers abstract preferredOilfield tickets are required but trainingcould be suppliedMust pass drug test before employmentPipe fitting experience a real assetWill train the right individuals
CANDIDATE MUST:
Ponoka has immediate openings for
Team MembersFT Weekdays - Weekends - Nights
Wages $9.95 - $11.00/hrApply online at [email protected] fax 403.783.5595 or drop off resume
is looking to hire full time
• BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE
• Identify customers & market opportunity• Develop prospects list and implement follow up• Provide feedback to management from customers on
performance/satisfaction.
Experience & Requirements• Strong customer service skills for direct sales contact for existing
& prospect customer• A professional & effective presentation style.• Strong communication skills• Profi cient in Microsoft offi ce, Excel & Word.• Ability to prioritize work where frequent interruptions may occur.• -Background/experience in Automotive parts preferred.• We offer competitive wages, excellent benefi t plan and
Call Jim Ashbough 783-2764 or Cell: 588-0599Jack Surbey 783-5283 Cell: 588-0597
BOBCAT SERVICES
SALES & SERVICE
BOTTLE DEPOT
Call Jim Ashbough 403-783-2764 or Cell: 403-588-0599Jack Surbey 403-783-5283 or Cell: 403-588-0597
PONOKA BOTTLE DEPOT
Open Monday - Saturday10 am - 5 pm
Closed Sundays & Holidays
We Now Recycle Milk Cartons for Deposit
3, 5520 Hwy 2A(Across from Husky)
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Tues - Fri: 8:30 am-5:30 pmSaturday: 9 am-3 pm
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Fax: 403-783-4635
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Call 403-783-3311TOWN OF PONOKAEmployment Opportunity
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT TECHNICIAN
The Town of Ponoka is currently seeking applications for the new position of Information Technology Support Technician. Reporting to the Information Technology Manager, this position is responsible for providing technical expertise in the operation, upkeep and maintenance of computers, servers, telephone and cell phone systems, printers, networks, inter and intranet sites and providing assistance to staff with trouble shooting and maintenance issues.
Duties and responsibilities of this position include:• Maintenance of various technology systems, ensuring that
appropriate software is current, operational and up to date.• Maintenance of user systems including the Town’s website,
Lotus Notes system, telephone and cell phone systems, printers, photocopiers and other electronic devices.
• Working with the Information Technology Manager to maintain the network operating system.
To be effective in the performance of this position, an individual would require the following knowledge and skills:
• Computer Systems Technology Diploma• Minimum of 2 years related experience or an equivalent
combination of education and employment experience• Excellent trouble shooting and analytical skills• Ability to work in a team environment• Excellent verbal and written communication skills• A valid Class 5 Operators License.
The successful candidate will also be required to submit a satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Driver’s Abstract.
To obtain a copy of the position description, please contact Sandra Lund, Acting Director, Corporate Services at (403)783-0133.
Applicants are asked to submit their resumes to: Town of Ponoka
- ADVANCED EYE HEALTH & VISION EXAMS- CONSULTATION & REFERRAL SERVICES- DESIGNER EYE WEAR & CONTACT LENSES- INSURED MEDICAL EYECARE SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL AGES
or deliver to 430054 Don Laing Business Park, RR261, Lot 2. Ponoka
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Delivery Driver &
Floral Designer
Part-time 3-4 days/wk.Must have valid drivers
license
Apply in person with resume to:
Flowers For You 5008-51 Ave., Ponoka
403-783-8190
Royal Canadian Gendarmerie royaleMounted Police du Canada
Detachment Services Assistant 1 and 3, Traffi c Services Assistant
Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceDetachments in Blackfalds, Innisfail, Leduc, Spruce Grove/Stony Plain
and Sherwood Park (Strathcona County) Alberta
And possible future vacancies for Central Alberta District detachments located at Bashaw, Breton, Camrose, Enoch, Fort Saskatchewan, Hobbema, Morinville, Ponoka, Rimbey, Rocky Mountain House,
Stettler, Thorsby and Wetaskiwin, (AB).
Open to persons residing in Canada and Canadian citizens residing abroad.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is currently recruiting for permanent CR-05 positions for Detachment Services Assistants. The starting salary will be $49,387 per annum (pro-rated). The closing date for applications is February 20, 2014 at 23:59 (PST). Please quote reference number RCM14J-011760-000003.
A pool of qualifi ed candidates will be established and may be used to staff future vacancies for various locations within Central Alberta District.
For more information about these opportunities, a list of Central Alberta District detachments and how to apply, visit www.jobs.gc.ca or call Info tel. at 1-800-645-5605. For more information about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police see www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
We are committed to Employment Equity. The Public Service of Canada is committed to developing inclusive, barrier free selection processes and work environment.
Vous pouvez obtenir ces renseignements en français.
POWER LINE TECHNICIAN/APPRENTICEThe Town of Ponoka has an immediate opening for the position of Apprentice/Power Line Technician for the Town’s Electrical Department. Reporting to the Line Foreman, this position is responsible for construction, operation, maintenance, and metering of the overhead and underground distribution system within the Town of Ponoka.
Required Quali cations:• Valid Alberta Journeyman Power Lineman / Powerline Technician
Certi cate or Interprovincial Red Seal.• Dependent on applications received, a fourth year Apprentice may be
considered.• Valid Emergency First Aid Level or above.• Valid Alberta Class 3 Vehicle Operators License with Airbrake Endorsement
preferred or willingness to achieve.• Current Criminal Record Check and suitable Driver’s Abstract.
Required Skills:• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and with minimal
supervision.• Strong interpersonal, team participation and communication skills.• Distribution operations, construction and maintenance knowledge and
skills.• Excellent customer relations.• Safe work skills including knowledge of safe work and job planning
procedures.
Desirable Skills Include:• Experience in the operation of a Digger an asset.• Standby and troubleshooting experience an asset.• 25 kV rubber glove and hotline work knowledge an asset.• Computer knowledge an asset.
Other Duties:• Assist other Town Departments with work activities including snow removal,
tree trimming and operating other equipment vehicles when required.Participation in the On-Call rotation is a requirement of this position and the successful candidate must reside within 10 km of the Town of Ponoka Limits (this item may be negotiated)
This position is open until a suitable candidate is found. For a complete copy of the job description, contact [email protected]
Please submit resume and references to:Town of Ponoka
• water wells drilled & serviced• new pump & pressure system installations• all types of pump repairs• well shocking
ECKLUNDWater Well Service
WATER WELL SERVICE
• Install & Service Pumps• Shock Wells
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Page 38 PONOKA NEWS Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
Real Estate#4000 - #4190
Transportation#5000-5300
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PONOKA NEWS Page 39Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014
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MUSKRATSBIOLOGIST MYRNA
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Red Deer Rebels alumni Mathew Dumba of the Minnesota Wild keeps the puck away from the Blue Jackets’ Blake Comeau in the second period of an NHL game
in Columbus, Ohio. Conventional wisdom says it takes years longer for defencemen to learn their position in the pros, but a handful of precocious teens, including
Dumba, don’t seem to have time for conventional wisdom. Please see our feature on Page 23.
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