Harley’s Garden project coming to West Flat

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Harley’s Garden project coming to West Flat

The Prince Albert non profit with a plan to build the Harley’s House youth home is looking to engage the community through the creation of a community garden in the West Flat.

They see the Harley’s Garden as a way to connect to the community before construction of the semi independent transitional housing project begins.

“The garden is a way for us to create certainty with the community for our overall project of the Harley’s House project. We have had to make some amendments to it but so far so good. We have raised $50,000 so far from Malcolm Jenkins and we have about four or five other corporate sponsors at this time also looking to jump on board,” Girardi Foundation executive director David Girardi said.

“It’s really an uplifting community revitalization project for the whole community of Prince Albert,” he added.

Canadian Tire owner and philanthropist Jenkins explained that he is at the stage of his life where he can’t take it with him and he wants to give back to the community he loves. The project will be built near the recently completed Alfred’s Spray Park.

“We built the splash park last year in that area. It has been largely an underserved area and the splash park went over well and the city added a playground and it has turned a small corner of the West Flat into a very nice area and this is adjacent to that,” Jenkins added.

He explained that the community garden will be another enhancement to the area.

“It is to enhance the area plus the goal is a worthy one it is to build a garden which is a nice addition to the community and then build a residence for at risk youth to give them a hand. It just seemed a very worthy thing to do and it’s adjacent to something we have already done so I think it is good if we can spread it from there it’s a nucleus and make something larger and more worthwhile of the whole thing,” Jenkins said.

“It’s coming back we have got a skatepark there now and that was the year before and now we have got a splash park and if this comes along. So it’s good I am hoping to see other people jump in and help and make it happen faster,” he added.

The amendments that have been made to the plans included adding garden plots and replacing benches to make it more of a community garden than a community space.

Girardi has filled out the development permit and is waiting on environment approval and other items.

According to Girardi the project build cost is $220,000 but they are fundraising will total $650,000. The project receives no government funding.

“We are using investment strategies through Edward Jones Investments that put a 75 to 100 per cent guarantee on all of the sponsorship capital raised and it pays out interest for monthly operating expenses. So if we raise $650,000 for the fundraising on the garden that will pay us $2,100 a month to cover all of the operational expenses of the garden,” he explained.

There is also a guaranteed succession in place if they raise the funds so if a board member passes away the program will continue according to Girardi. The garden will also include artwork from the Bernice Sayese Centre cultural program.

The purpose of the community garden is simple according to Girardi.

“The entire purpose of the garden is that it is a community garden. So available to the community through an online booking system to either have their own garden plot as well as for use to learn about gardening skills. To learn the value of growing something and how you do one thing in life is how you do the other,” he explained.

Girardi said that they will build certainty with the neighbourhood in the 1300 block of 13th Street West by having the smaller scale project go in first.

“Why would build a home without winning the approval of our neighbours first without proving the basic concept on our smaller scale project. It’s kind of like why would the bank give you money to construct an apartment building if you had no operational experience running an apartment, they simply wouldn’t. This is our way of showing that we can build something and we can also show the community that it’s designed and it works as intended and it also gives our neighbours a way to get to know us as well as the way in which we are operating and a way of us giving back to the community,”

Girardi said that the foundation is focused on being a non profit that is also self sufficient.

“We are hoping that if we do this for the community as well they will step up for us.

The entire idea is also that they will only have to fundraise once and not have to return to the well each year.

“This is a project that the whole community of Prince Albert can step up to get involved with for as little as $100 really as a capital donation and be proud of doing something. We are not going to be back every single year for more cash. We have a financial structure in place that makes it self reliant,”

Girardi said that programs such as the Lighthouse in North Battleford survive on provincial funding that can be cut and that just causes more social problems.

“That is why we have taken the approach that we have and our approach is to raise once and preserve and make sure that we always have enough operating capital on hand. At the very end of it, it is basically that we are 100 per cent self sufficient because a community is more likely and more comfortable in giving is if they have to give every 10 years versus every year over and over,” he said.

Girardi added they want to focus on projects instead of having to fundraise each year because of this model.

“We are trying to become an equitable non profit in the community of Prince Albert because we live here and we love it here. Not only that this garden will also give individuals aging out of foster care in the age category of 18 to 21 an alternative. When we are growing food and giving it back to the Prince Albert Food Bank because we are allowed to donate, We feel that it’s a positive thing for the whole community.”

Catholic Division board approves three year PMR plan

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Catholic Division board approves three year PMR plan

Schools are always in need of maintenance and the Prince Albert Catholic School Division has an ability to stay ahead of these with the Preventative Maintenance and Renewal (PMR) Plan.

At their meeting on Monday, May 25 the board approved the three-year (fiscal years 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-205) PMR projects list.

“The Preventative Maintenance and Renewal plan is very much a measured approach to articulating what the jobs are that we need to get done to our buildings and our facilities. We do have flexibility within the plan,” director of education Lorel Trumier said.

During the meeting trustee Darryl Sande noticed that St. Francis had a gymnasium floor replacement listed on the plan. This project has already been completed after a water main break in 2019 and was removed by an amendment before the plan was approved.

“So now we will have an opportunity to assess the future projects that are articulated and seek to finish an additional one instead,” Trumier said.

The entire budget in the three year plan totals $779,416.

The three-year plan includes project such as removing and replacing damaged bricks on the south wall of St. John and separate gym floor projects at St. Michael and St. John in the next series of projects.

“It’s a very measured approach, what it does is it highlights areas of concern and need in our system,” she explained.

According to Trumier one of the best examples of how the PMR budget works is school roofs which can be identified as a future need but moved to another time as the need arises.

“However we know that sometimes some roofs may experience heavy snow loads and where we will have to move that project up a couple of years and then we are able to shift a different one back because it wasn’t as necessary. And it allows us that opportunity to prioritize and shift them as the need calls upon and it guarantees that we have those dollars as it is earmarked dollars we are not able to spend them in other categories for those kinds of tasks,” Trumier said.

One example of this happening is the recently approved amendment to add the roof at St. Francis which was added this year as an amendment. One project listed in 2024-2025 portion of the plan is a roofing project at St. John.
The plan is administration’s current best estimate of anticipated projects, associated costs and potential timing. The plan is always subject to change as events occur in the future.

Should new projects arise that aren’t included, administration will request an amendment to the plan. For example, last March there were a number of amendments for costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The exercise of developing the PMR budget is a credit to the entire operation according to Trumier.

“I think our buildings are in really great condition and I credit the management, our school based administration, our facilities manager Dan Gareau and the team of people here that support the operation of the facilities because we have got really nice facilities,” she said.

All PMR plans must be approved by the board and submitted to the Ministry of Education.

Prince Albert school divisions join MN-S Michif language pilot program

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Prince Albert school divisions join MN-S Michif language pilot program

Last week it was announced that the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division (SRPSD) and Prince Albert Catholic School Division will be joining the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MNS) in preserving and revitalizing Michif language and culture.

Both divisions will be joining the Michif Early Learning Pilot Project (MELPP) starting in the fall of 2021.

Sask Rivers Superintendent Jennifer Hingley explained that the partnership came together because of the MN-S.

“It’s their initiative and we feel privileged to be included and brought on board,” Hingley said.

Catholic Division director of education Lorel Trumier was excited to see partnerships with the MN-S grow in the division including the recent donation of 204 Chromebooks.

She said that they were also excited to engage in the two year Michif pilot program. They are still determining which schools will be part of the program.

“We have got to determine that at this point we are just assessing on that matter now and we are looking forward to implementing that in the fall. Most likely it will be a Kindergarten program that we will be able to have that Michif language and cultural experience for those children,” Trumier said.

In Sask. Rivers, St Louis Public School and Queen Mary Public School have been selected to be part of the program.

According to Hingley St. Louis was chosen because it was a historical Métis community.

“It seemed like the most respectful and seamless way was to go with St. Louis. and Prince Albert itself also has a lot of strong Métis connections and history. And then we just looked at where we had high populations of Indigenous and Métis students so that we could provide that experience for them,” she explained.

This goes along with other language work in the division such as the Cree Kindergarten program at John Diefenbaker and other initiatives.

“The fact that the Métis Nation came to us with this opportunity fit in beautifully with our work around Truth and Reconciliation and creating opportunities for students to learn a historical language and practice their culture within a school setting,” Hingley said.

The purpose of the partnership is to bring revitalization and recognition to the Michif language. Michif itself is a combination of Cree and French and evolved and developed over time. She explained that it is an opportunity to use the critical elements of language and culture for young learners.

“It’s an opportunity to partner with school divisions, because that is where the learners are, to then provide children with that opportunity to learn the Michif language and experience a Métis culturally enhanced classroom through this partnership as well,” Hingley said.

The MN-S announced the expansion to the early learning language pilot projects last week. The language has less than 700 fluent speakers in Canada. According to MNS both the MELPP and the sister project the Dene Early Learning Pilot Project (DELPP) are significant and unprecedented steps in preserving Métis culture. The pilot was originally announced in September, 2020.

In the province there are currently over 130 Kindergarten and Pre-K students learning moth Michif and Dene.

“We see the images of the smiling young faces engaged in the learning of our language, and we can’t help but light up. This program was introduced to help preserve Michif and Dene languages and encourage a whole new generation of speakers and educators. In just seven short months, we have surpassed expectations.” MN–S Education Minister Dr. Earl Cook said in a release.

The MN-S will provide support, expertise and resources while division early learning staff will provide knowledge, vibrant early learning environments and a strong community connection.

In a release, Sask Rivers said that it has a strong history of successful early learning programs and joining this program is an exciting addition. We know that a strong start in education is paramount to early learning development and future student success. This MN-S program is an exciting opportunity because children with a strong cultural identity and respect for multiple languages and cultures often have increased academic success.

The division’s early learning educators will be working with MN-S and our staff and families in these two school communities to determine the details about how the MELPP will be structured and delivered. Details will be finalized over the coming months.

Hingley emphasized how pleased the division was to be included in the partnership and the opportunity it presented for students.

“The fact it is happening for our early learning students and the fact that it is happening at the early learning means that our students will have that opportunity to have their identity affirmed as soon as they make those first connections with school,” Hingley said.

“They will see the Métis culture will be reflected and those students will see themselves in the learning and then I think the whole school community benefits from that as well.”

The MN-S announced the expansion to the early learning language pilot projects last week. The language has less than 700 fluent speakers in Canada. According to MNS both the MELPP and the sister project the Dene Early Learning Pilot Project (DELPP) are significant and unprecedented steps in preserving Métis culture. The pilot was originally announced in September, 2020.

In the province there are currently over 130 Kindergarten and Pre-K students learning moth Michif and Dene.

“We see the images of the smiling young faces engaged in the learning of our language, and we can’t help but light up. This program was introduced to help preserve Michif and Dene languages and encourage a whole new generation of speakers and educators. In just seven short months, we have surpassed expectations.” MN–S Education Minister Dr. Earl Cook said in a release.

The Michif pilot project will continue in Regina Public Schools, Regina Catholic Schools, Saskatoon Public Schools, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and Rossignol Elementary in Île-à-la-Crosse. Along with Sask. Rivers and Prince Albert Catholic the other divisions joining next fall are the Northwest School Division and Prairie Spirit School Division.

SCFPA disappointed francophone school project not included in budget for second straight year

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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SCFPA disappointed francophone school project not included in budget for second straight year

The Société canadienne-française de Prince Albert (French-Canadian Society of Prince Albert, or SCFPA) was disappointed on Budget Day, April 6, with the lack of provision for a new francophone community school in Prince Albert.

The local Fransaskois community  and its partners, which includes seniors groups, the École Valois Parents Council and staff, Métis community members, francophone school board representatives and the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CEF) have been working on a viable, realistic and financially solid business plan for the purchase and renovation of Rivier Academy for over two years.

“The message we really want to put through is that the whole French community in Prince Albert is left with this lack of certainty and it’s very frustrating for everyone,”  Estelle Hjertaas, president of the SCFPA, explained.

“We were hoping this would be in the budget last year and now we are another budget later and we still don’t have a yes or no answer,” she added.

The business case and cost analysis for the conversion of Rivier Academy to a citizen-based community school centre was submitted in February 2020 to former Minister of Education Gord Wyant at his request. In March 2019, the Government of Saskatchewan and its Fransaskois school board signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the construction of a francophone school in Prince Albert.

Hjertaas said all they really want is certainty on the situation, and to know if there is a need to provide more information or studies.

The group has also asked to meet with Premier Scott Moe, but has yet to get a response.

“Right now we are just kind of in limbo. We have had communication with (Education) Minister (Dustin) Duncan and that has been great, but we don’t have an answer either way and there’s no clear path forward,” she explained.

Since the 2020 budget, the organization has done even more in-depth research on the project to confirm the reliability of the community business case. The provincial government requested the information to help form a partnership with Heritage Canada and the federal government.

According to Hjertaas, discussions with Heritage Canada had begun before the COVID-19 pandemic and officials had already taken a tour. Ministry of Education officials have also visited the property.

“They were very interested in the idea. So that’s a big frustration,” she said.

She added that it was like they were spinning their wheels.

“If they are going to say yes, or they are looking towards (saying) yes and just need more information and to have the discussion with the federal government, then great. Tell us that, and we will do whatever we can to make sure that happens,” she said. “If the answer is, ‘we are not interested in this at all’ then just tell us that and we can stop spending our time and resources on it.

“We are very clear. That is our preference in terms of  the Rivier project. If there is no chance this is going to happen we just want to know that and then  we’ll move forward.”

The project is work for the entire French community of Prince Albert. Because of the pandemic there are no in person events but certainty is needed.

“We are potentially foregoing opportunities to either purchase or lease better spaces which might not be available in the future because we are hoping that we would all move to Rivier which would be the ideal situation for everyone,”

In a release earlier in April, Hjertaas explained that they have cooperated with the province and met with both Wyant and Duncan. They have also identified new and traditional funding programs but there is still not a clear commitment.

“They have been open to meeting with us we have really appreciated meeting with Minister Duncan, it’s not a criticism of them insomuch it is just it has been two years we need the decision so that the community can have certainty going forward,” she explained.

Hjertaas said that they hope the pandemic will be over soon and they can start in person events.

“For us as a society our spaces are not appropriate so we want to make a decision about finding better spaces and if Rivier is on the table than excellent we will wait for those spaces, if Rivier is off the table than we are going to keep looking at options that we do have as they might come up,”she added.

Since signing an MOU with the CEF in March 2019, which stipulates three new francophone schools to be built by 2023, including one for Prince Albert, the Ministry of Education has only moved ahead with one in Regina in March, 2020.

Hjertaas noted in the release that the file has been on Premier Moe’s desk since well before the budget was tabled and the group reiterated their request to meet with the Premier to explain the economic advantages directly.

“We anticipate that once Premier Moe has seen the financial details of our proposal, his officials will move forward quickly on an option that is in the best interests of our community, our children and our city”, she explained in that release.

The former Rivier Academy was listed for sale in June, 2020 and remains on the market.

The Ministry of Education responded in an email Monday.

“The Government of Saskatchewan continues to work within the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed with the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CEF) in March 2019,” they said.

“That commitment is to develop schools in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert by 2025. Our government will continue to work with the CEF to ensure that these commitments are met in the timeframe promised. “

Online vaccine process simple and effective

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Online vaccine process simple and effective

When my age finally came up for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility I was very happy. When that age opened up however there was high demand for appointments when my age group was eligible so I waited over a week to attempt to book online.

So on Sunday, April 25 I decided at random after seeing people I know had already been vaccinated in Prince Albert to attempt to book online. The process was relatively quick at around 10 minutes with only a health card number and location needed.

The appointment wound up on May 2 at Vincent Massey School in the early afternoon. That was a handy location which was also near where I live.

After the appointment was confirmed an email was sent with details about the appointment such as arriving five minutes before and ensuring you have a mask at all times. After the shot is completed you have to wait 15 minutes to insure there are no after effects.

On May 1, there were two texts and two email appointment reminders roughly 24 hours before the appointment time. There was then another pair of reminder texts and emails the day of the appointment.

Because it is my way I left about 15 minutes before the scheduled time and waited in my car for 10 minutes after I arrived.

When you walk into the appointment you show your health card and they ask you the usual questions you have come to expect in the COVID-19 pandemic. You are offered a mask, which I took and used the opportunity to double mask.

You have to show your health card in the gym itself and the person at the entrance finds your appointment.

When my nurse, JoAnne, took me when she became free she asked me a similar series of questions and outlined some of the possible side effects. She asks how you feel about getting the vaccination, I was excited, which she said was a common reaction. The shot of the day was the Pfizer vaccine and she explained that they either get Pfizer or Moderna depending on availability. She explained that the AstraZeneca goes to the drive thru when it is open and she has done shifts at both.

I explained what my usual side effects were from flu shots, sore arm and fatigue and was told to expect something similar as those are common side effects. I was told to expect side effects for a couple of days.

I also learned that to find out about your second dose you should watch the updates for your age group and it is best to get the second dose between 21 days and four months.

Vincent Massey was a hopping place on Sunday, I had driven by the school a few times recently and wondered why the lot was always full of cars and found out my answer.

As I am not a fan of needles I let her know and looked at the Exit sign while I got the shot. The entire experience was pleasant and the operation runs like a well oiled machine.

In order to set up for whatever might happen I had done my errands on Saturday just in case. I was on weekend duty and planned to work from home so after I returned I worked on a project. Then about an hour and a half later I started to feel tired. After finishing my project the decision was made to drop the other one I had planned.

The side effects for me were similar to when I get the flu shot and the sore arm was the other noticeable one.

During the night I had to be careful of the arm I had my shot in but slept well. The fatigue stuck around for Monday and we will see what the rest of the week brings.

This completed vaccinations for my entire family with my mother, sisters and brothers-in-law all getting vaccinated in various jurisdictions around Canada and the world.

After the whole experience I can echo Premier Scott Moe about getting your shot as soon as you are able.

Carlton to celebrate Music Monday virtually throughout this week

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Carlton to celebrate Music Monday virtually throughout this week

Music Monday will be celebrated in another new way at Carlton Comprehensive High School in 2021. The school will posting a few videos on their various social media pages throughout this week.

For the second year in a row, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, music teacher Brenda Bernath wanted to keep the tradition going.

Music Monday was started in 2005 by the Coalition for Music Education with the goal of improving the state of music education in Canada, while striving to bring attention to the importance of equitable access to quality music education for all students. Every year on the first Monday in May students, educators, and musicians celebrate this day by sharing music in their schools, communities and virtually online.

“I cannot believe that it has been over a year since we were originally sent home from school at the beginning of the pandemic. When we were sent home last March, I was hoping that we would be back by the beginning of May so that we could still have our year end band and choir concert,” Bernath said.

In 2020 they took Music Monday to YouTube with Music Monday: Carlton Celebrates Music, Now…and Then.

“It was a way to celebrate music, share student talents, and use music to connect virtually with people at a time when we were so disconnected. And now here we are a year later, still celebrating music virtually. And although there are so many great benefits to live performance and experiencing music that way, sharing music virtually has actually grown the size of the audience. It has given people the ability to view a performance from wherever they live and at a time that works for them,” she explained.

The playing of wind instruments in school remains not recommended for band class and Bernath explained that students found new ways to engage in music both individually and as an ensemble. “Some students took their band instruments home and played them there, others played non-wind instruments at home or at school, and others formed smaller ensembles at school and played music using buckets, tone chimes, and percussion instruments,” she said.

According to Bernath, the process varied and was based on students interests and needs. They wanted to be able to accommodate students’ needs and keep them engaged in music.

“Hopefully, the experience has taught students to keep their options open in terms of music, as there as so many ways of experiencing the value of music and the gift that it has to offer. Of course, we are still looking forward to being able to play as a band again, as we do miss the rich sound of the concert band and working together as a collective whole in creating music,” Bernath said.

She explained that there was some debate about what Music Monday would look like this year. After consultation with a colleague and students, the decision was made to post individual videos rather than a long production like in 2020.

“Last year, we had so many videos to share between the ones that kids were able to make while they were learning from home and then also using other videos from past events throughout the school year. And at that time, people were at home as well with time to watch a longer production,” Bernath said.

They put together a similar project at Christmas where they shared performances with senior’s homes in Prince Albert. Then in February they created a “What’s Your Passion?” project. In that students were invited to share photos or videos of what they loved to do on the school’s social media pages. “It was really meant to highlight and celebrate all kids, their interests, skills and talents, and who they are as individuals. In a way, the presentation for Music Monday this year is a continuation of that idea,” she explained.

“I wanted a way to share photos and a few videos of what band looked like this year for us during the pandemic, and how we continued to pursue our passion of music, just in a different way. It was kids playing their band instruments at home, some playing non band instruments, some working individually, and others playing in small ensembles. It was whatever it had to be to keep kids engaging in music,” Bernath added.

She explained that as a music teacher she hopes to see band return to what it was before with possibly bell covers on instruments and playing distanced so they can be together as group.

“Band has a huge impact on the lives of our students. I have had students tell me they miss the band experience. Even graduated students and their parents often state how much they miss band and how it was such a great part of high school. They miss the rehearsals, the music, the performance, the team. Hopefully we can get back to all of that,” Bernath said.

Music Monday will be available at both the Carlton Facebook and Instagram pages.

New River Street signs honour city’s Indigenous history

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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New River Street signs honour city’s Indigenous history

Prince Albert’s River Street will be the first location named under the City’s Indigenous Naming Initiative. Signs will be installed on River Street at 1st Ave West, 1st Ave East and 6th Ave East, translated in the City’s six Indigenous languages: Plains Cree, Swampy Cree, Woodland Cree, Dakota, Dene and Métis.

The project is part of the City’s Municipal Cultural Action Plan (MCAP) and approved by City Council following recommendations from the Historical Society’s First Nation and Metis Knowledge Keeper Committee.

Judy MacLeod Campbell, Arts and Cultural Coordinator for the City of Prince Albert explained that the entire project is important so people have a sense of belonging in the community.

“When we looked at this idea, which is certainly in other cities and places throughout Canada and throughout the world. It’s really a way to recognize the population that we have and a community that we have and really try to be as reflective of that population as we can be. In particular this is an Indigenous naming initiative but down the road it could expand much more beyond and that is because the intent is to really look at our community and be inclusive of our community,” she explained.

The committee assisted with prioritizing and recommending names and locations to present to the City’s Community Services Advisory Committee and City Council.

The location was chosen in part because of the significance of the river to Indigenous communities as the historical meeting place.

MacLeod Campbell explained that the city did some groundwork looking at what was potentially available and unnamed.

“We brought all of that kind of information to the Knowledge Keepers Committee and they were the ones, they had several ideas and a couple priorities as being. It is so relevant that it seemed like a really good place to start,” she added.

In a release she explained the purpose of the initiative is also to acknowledge the history of the people who lived on these lands before settlers arrived. It will also serve as an opportunity to reflect and honour the contributions of the Indigenous community in Prince Albert.

As of this moment 42 per cent of Prince Albert identifies as Indigenous but they were only able to identify nine locations in the city have an Indigenous name.

“That is clearly not representative of the population,” MacLeod Campbell said.

She explained the community is made up of many parts and many people.

“There’s so much more that can be done and this initiative has helped us to start that conversation and begin to reflect on the people, places and names that are appropriate for Prince Albert,” she added in the release.

A number of other names and locations were also considered by the Knowledge Keeper Committee with a recommendation to consider a welcome sign in Indigenous languages.

As part of the project, an inventory of current and potential places and spaces for Indigenous naming was initiated by a City of Prince Albert staff and Historical Society working group. Part of this inventory was the identification of places and spaces that cannot or should not be named due to existing sponsorship agreements, emergency service response and spaces already named.

The MCAP identifies actions to make Prince Albert a stronger cultural community. This initiative is part of ongoing work of the MCAP to ensure that all nations, communities, newcomers and individuals are welcomed and celebrated in the community while working toward achieving the recommendations identified in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.The Knowledge Keepers are a committee of the Historical Society which includes representatives from each of the five First Nations cultures in, and members of, the Prince Albert Grand Council as well as five Metis Knowledge Keepers from the community.

MacLeod Campbell said that future plans for the MCAP include a history project around Little Red River Park.

“That used to be the ancient Dakota village, the Dakota people then moved to Wahpeton. So we are doing some work there with first starting with the story, so there was a village there of Dakota people prior to Little Red River Park and how it got its name. That is our next project related to this initiative,” she said.

MN-S introduces new Early Learning Backpack Program

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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MN-S introduces new Early Learning Backpack Program

The Métis Nation–Saskatchewan is helping families nurture and support their children. To that end the N–S Early Learning & Child Care (ELCC) Ministry introduced a new Early Learning Backpack Program.

According to Lisa Fleming, MN–S Senior Director of Early Learning and Childcare, the program began on Wednesday.

“The purpose of the backpack program is to support Métis children and families to access early learning materials during COVID,” she explained.

The Backpack Program is one way the MN-S is trying to provide Métis specific learning resources for Métis families.

“What we know is for many families the ability to access their typical regular childhood provider hasn’t always been easy during the pandemic and so Métis Nation-Saskatchewan is offering the backpacks so that families can continue to support their children and give them some high quality early learning experiences with the resources we are providing as a nation,” Fleming explained.

Registered Métis citizens with children five years of age and under can receive specially designed backpacks filled with various learning materials. Younger children will receive baby blankets, and older kids will get everything from markers and crayons to paper, scissors, tape and Métis-focused reading material.

“So registered Metis citizens can apply for a backpack for their child. If the child is not registered we will include information for that family to register their child and to receive a certificate with the child’s name on it,” she explained.

The backpacks contain materials to stimulate creativity, hand-eye coordination and learning development. Families will receive practical strategies and resources to help foster imagination and learning in the early years.

“MN–S recognizes the importance of supporting our early learners. During COVID, many young children were unable to attend childcare programs or early learning centres,” MN–S ELCC Minister, Dr. Earl Cook said in a release.

“These backpacks will assist young children, in their crucial years of early brain development, as they cut, colour, read, sing and grow.”

MN–S citizens who have registered children under a year old, will automatically receive a full backpack in the mail. For children aged one to five, parents and/or caregivers can obtain information on the application process by calling Kristi Ross at 306-292-7443 or by emailing kross@mns.work.

“I think that we want to continue to encourage our families to access materials and resources for their children and that we hope as a nation that everyone continues to stay safe during the pandemic and we wish everybody the best of luck,” Fleming said.

Province reports four deaths related to COVID-19 on Wednesday

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Province reports four deaths related to COVID-19 on Wednesday

Saskatchewan health officials reported four new deaths related to COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Three deaths were in the Saskatoon zone, one in the 40 to 49 age group, one in the 50 to 59 age group and one in the 70 to 79 age group.

The other death was in the Regina zone in the 70 to 79 age group.

The number of deaths related to COVID-19 has risen to 486.

On Wednesday there were four new cases reported in North Central, which includes Prince Albert.

In the province there was a total of 213 new cases reported. Regina led the province with 81 new cases reported.

North Central 2, which is Prince Albert, has 51 active cases. North Central 1, which includes communities such as Christopher Lake, Candle Lake and Meath Park, has 27 active cases and North Central 3 has 41 active cases.

There are currently 184 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the province. Of the 142 reported as receiving in patient care, there are six in North Central. Of the 42 people reported as being in intensive care, there are two in North Central.

The current seven-day average for new cases is 245, or 20.0 cases per 100,000 population. Of the 40,614 reported COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan, 2,443 are considered active.

Another 284 recoveries were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 37,685.

Since the start of the pandemic, 8,992 cases are from the North area (3,810 North West, 3,750 North Central and 1,432 North East).

There were 3,399 COVID-19 tests processed in Saskatchewan on April 26.

As of today there have been 762,565 COVID-19 tests performed in Saskatchewan.

There were 7,334 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Saskatchewan bringing the total number of vaccines administered in the province to 415,763.

There were 736 doses administered in the North Central Zone reported on Tuesday. Doses were also administered in the adjacent North East, North West, Far North Central, Far North East, Far North West, Central West, Central East, South West, South Central, South East, Regina and Saskatoon.

There were 378 doses administered with zone of residence pending.

Effective April 28, eligibility in the provincial age-based immunization program has expanded to age 42 and older, except for the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, where it has expanded to age 30 and older.

This applies to all immunization clinics: booked appointments, drive-thru/walk-in, pharmacies and mobile.

According to the province, 80 per cent of residents over the age of 60 have received their first dose and 40 per cent of those 18 plus have received their first dose.

103 variants of concern identified in North Central

There are now 103 confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases identified by the province in the North Central zone, as of April 27.

This was among 6,444 variants of concern identified by screening in Saskatchewan to date. Other regions with identified cases included Regina, Saskatoon, Far North East, Central West, Central East, South West, South Central and South East. There are currently 75 cases with area of residency pending.

There are now 13 VOCs identified in the adjacent North East.

Regina led the province with 3,584 identified VOCs.

There were aero new lineage results reported today. Of the 2,305 VOCs with lineages identified by whole genome sequencing in Saskatchewan, 2,277 are B.1.1.1.7 (UK), nine are B.1.351 (SA) and 19 are P.1. (Brazilian).

Yesterday saw an increase in P.1. variant cases initially reported. That variant isn’t only present in the Southwest, where it was initially detected. It has since been identified in the South Central, North West and Saskatoon zones.

The Regina zone accounts for 1,581 (or 69 per cent) of the VOC cases with confirmed lineage reported in Saskatchewan.

SES report sees carbon neutral grid by 2040 possible for SaskPower

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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SES report sees carbon neutral grid by 2040 possible for SaskPower

In 2013, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) produced a report, Yes They Can: A 2020 Vision for SaskPower. According to Vice-President of the SES Bob Halliday, the report was a picture of where SaskPower could be and as 2020 was coming to an end they thought they should look back on the 2013 report.

“The reason we released the current report today is just that there is so much publicity last week on President Joe Biden saying the US is going to have carbon free power by 2035. We had this report just about ready to go saying that SaskPower should have carbon free power by 2040 so we felt that the timing was good to get it out,” Halliday said.

In a release the SES said that there is a clear path forward to be carbon neutral by 2040.

The new report examines and updates the analysis and recommendations from the 2013 report and considers how close SaskPower has come to meeting those recommendations.

“It’s basically a snapshot of what SaskPower has done since 2013 and where we think they should be going now,” he explained.

The 2013 report provided basic information concerning greenhouse gas emissions in Saskatchewan and the SaskPower electricity generation system.

The 2013 report also discussed vulnerabilities and opportunities associated with the SaskPower system and presented 18 recommendations covering the short-term (2020), medium-term (2030) and long-term (2050). The new report examines and updates the analysis and recommendations from the 2013 report and considers how close SaskPower has come to meeting those recommendations.

In the last several years, SaskPower has made very little progress on reducing GHG emissions. In its 2013 report, SES offered proposals as to how carbon emissions could be significantly reduced, but the slow pace of SaskPower’s transition to decarbonizing its power generation leaves the 2030 goals of reducing GHG emissions to 40 percent below 2005 levels and to having one-half of its generating capacity based on renewables by 2030, a challenge.

However Halliday notes that there was some progress made including the first retrofit of carbon capture and storage at Boundary Dam.

“It cost a fortune but they did do it,” he said.

Halliday explained that there has also been significant wind power work done by the utility that has been coming online over the past few years.

“At the moment it looks like they haven’t gained anything on renewable power but they have quite a bit of wind power in the offing,” Halliday said.

Since 2012, SaskPower has also moved from a coal-fired power company to a natural gas-fired power company to a significant degree. In 2018-2019 SaskPower generated more power from natural gas than from coal.

“That also raises a concern for us as well because if the world is going carbon free. Investing a lot of money in gas powered power plants doesn’t make a huge amount of sense and economists talk about stranded assets. They could in fact build a bunch more gas fired power plants and then find that they have to shut them down before the end of their useful life and that’s a concern that SES has now,” Halliday said.

The new report offers several recommendations for SaskPower’s consideration. Firstly they should commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. To support this, its current 2030 goal should be enhanced to a goal of having one-half of its power generation from renewables by 2030. Being net zero by 2040 would be an ambitious target but should be viewed in the context of the planet needing to be net zero by 2050.

If a revised 2030 goal is to be met, SaskPower should pursue three options: Make a 1000 MW interconnection to Manitoba Hydro a high priority for completion by 2030, Continue to commission utility-scale wind farms up to the capability of the present grid. This would be in the order of 20 to 25 percent of capacity. They also called for SaskPower to take the necessary steps to enable commissioning of utility scale solar stations by 2030. The target should be 500 MW of solar capacity.

Halliday explained that one option is to continue cooperating with Manitoba Hydro after shutting down coal fired power plants as a least costly option.

“Manitoba Hydro is 100 per cent hydroelectricity which is renewable power. And there is a lot of benefits on both SaskPower and Manitoba Hydro are relatively small utilities so if you tied them together quite well there is a lot of mutual benefits in having the two companies trading power and if the wind is blowing in Saskatchewan it might not be blowing in Manitoba and when the wind isn’t blowing you can use that hydro and all of those kinds of things. There is a lot of synergies between the two companies potentially. So that is probably one of our key asks,” Halliday said.

Other options are solar power.

“The other thing is since 2013 SES didn’t anticipate that the cost of solar power would just be rocketing downward and Saskatchewan has the best solar resource in all of Canada and yet SaskPower hasn’t gone down that road to any great extent,” Halliday said.

“We certainly recommend that they get into the solar power business as quickly as possible to try and meet some of these targets that we think are doable and achievable.”

They also asked SaskPower to formally announce its intent to decommission the Poplar River Power Station by 2030 because it would remove uncertainty and allow appropriate transitional measures to be put in place at Coronach. They were also asked to enhance their commitment to demand-side management to 500 MW and continue to seek cogeneration opportunities in the order of 500 MW, continue to investigate the feasibility of geothermal power production in the province, continue to work on smart grid and related grid modernization technologies so that renewable power can be successfully integrated into its system, pursue pilot projects related to energy storage using compressed air and large batteries and any other options and should engage external expertise to develop a comprehensive plan for energy storage by 2023 and establish a pilot project by 2025.

According to Halliday, SaskPower has done some work since the 2013 report that shows their concerns are being heard.

“I like to think we have had some influence on them and maybe they would have done all of the wind power development anyway whether or not we had said they should. And the other thing is we talk about connections with Manitoba Hydro and they have another line to Manitoba Hydro under construction. I would like to think that some of the things we set out are clicking with them. But that said I think they find it very easy to build gas fired power plants and I think that could come back to bite them down the road,” he said.

“The other thing which we have advocated that they expend some effort on conserving electricity sand increasing energy efficiency. They have targets on that and we think they could easily double their target. Of course the more energy you save the less new power plants you have to build,” he added.

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