The Shellbrook RCMP are investigating multiple reports of grain storage bags being slashed open in the RM of Canwood.
The RCMP are currently asking for the public’s assistance investigating these crimes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Shellbrook RCMP at 306-747-2606. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a tip online at saskcrimestoppers.com or text TIP206 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).
Donald Cooper knows a thing or two about doing business.
The man behind award winning fashion retail and 18 years at a leading sports equipment company, Cooper has become a renowned, highly sought-after speaker in the business world.
Last Thursday, he brought his wisdom to Prince Albert as the keynote speaker for the Chamber of Commerce’s Chairperson’s night, where the new board was sworn in and Fred Matheson named a lifetime chamber member.
In his decades in business and consulting with others on how to improve theirs, Cooper has learned a lot about what works, what doesn’t and why.
His presentation focused on traits that lead to business success, as well as the importance of clarity and creating value.
“In business, we cannot get someone else t do our thinking for us,” Cooper said. “We need to do the thinking. We need to work on the business, not just in it.”
He looked out over the room. He had one message for everyone.
“The number one reality, your market is over-served and under-differentiated. Whatever you sell, there are too damn many other people selling it,” he said. “You mostly look alike, sound alike, talk alike and charge alike. We need to differentiate ourselves or we’re in trouble.”
The number two reality, he said, has to do with customers.
“Customers are better informed, more confused, more cynical, more demanding, less forgiving and connected,” Cooper explained.
He used the examples of headache pills and phone companies ‑ two things that typically go together —Two things that also include dozens of options and little clarity as to what options are best and why.
“Every industry is tough,” Cooper explained. “Unless you love it and have a burning desire to do it.”
When that desire, at the top, fades away, Cooper said, it also disappears from the rest of the business.
“We start out passionate, and then we get a bit complacent, and then the results aren’t as good so we get resentful and blame somebody else. Then we get bitter, and then we die,” Cooper said. “For a lot of people the life journey is passionate, complacent, resentful, bitter and dead. What’s wrong with passionate, passionate and death?” he asked.
“It’s always going to end the same way, but the journey is so different.”
For more on this story, please see the October 17 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald
A lot has changed in 88 years.
In 1929, 88 years ago, Britain restored diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. Black Thursday and the Wall Street Crash marked the beginning of the great depression, and Nova Scotia repealed laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol.
But, 88 years later, one Prince Albert business remains strong. Ted Matheson’s Men’s Wear has been operating in downtown P.A. since 1929.
Three generations later, the store still bears the family name, and it’s still run by the Matheson family. On October 12, 2017, Fred Matheson earned one of the chamber of commerce’s top honours by being awarded a lifetime membership for his contributions to the Prince Albert business community, and the city at large.
Fred Matheson (the younger – his uncle also worked at the store for several years) joined the family business in 1986 after finishing university. He joined the chamber of commerce board of directors, a position he held for five years. He has remained an active member of the chamber.
Under his leadership, the store received an ABEX award in the community cornerstone category, recognizing small businesses with deep roots and longstanding support for the local community.
“Fred Matheson and that company’s legacy in Prince Albert is second to none,” said chamber of commerce CEO Larry Fladager. “We’re really proud of the fact that we’re able to honour that family’s legacy by giving a lifetime membership award to the third generation.”
By accepting the lifetime membership award Thursday night, Matheson became the first person to receive the honour since Barry Dutchak and Jim Scarrow were named lifetime members in 2014. Other lifetime members include Art Hauser, E.A. Rawlinson, Fred’s father Jack Matheson and the Prince Albert Daily Herald.
“I am truly very honoured to be a recipient of this lifetime membership,” Fred Matheson said Thursday night. “I’m very proud that my family has been part of this business community for three generations. I believe a chamber of commerce is really important for a strong and vibrant community. It is the voice of business. We need to leverage ourselves in the business community to be successful and profitable.
Matheson took little credit himself, instead praising his family and employees who have helped the business stick around for so long.
“I believe in surrounding oneself with good people. I am successful because I have hardworking people around me,” Matheson said.
“When business is successful, the entire community wins. I believe in getting involved in your community. In order to serve your customer, you need to know who your customer is. What better way to get to know your customer than getting involved in the community?”
Matheson told the Daily Herald he had prepared a few different speeches. In one, he said, he had achieved everything he had ever set out to do in his working career and adult life, but never imagined he would ever be rewarded with a life membership.
“When you see the list of different people who were life members, you’ve got to be happy about that,” he said.
Matheson said the business has taught him a lot, about adapting to change, and about learning from others.
“I look to other retailers in and around the province, and in eastern and western Canada,” he said.
“I’ve learned from them. The biggest thing I’ve learned is I have a lot to learn. I’ve been at it for 31 years, but I’m always learning.”
It’s not just about learning what makes businesses successful, Matheson said. It’s also about learning from other businesses’ mistakes, and learning from those who have failed.
It’s a message Matheson would like to pass along to the next generation of entrepreneurs just entering the market.
“I’m lucky because my staff is younger and they’re teaching me things, but for a young person, they still have to have a mentor, someone they can talk to,” he said.
“The chamber is important because there are channels the chamber has that will allow them to find mentors. I really believe that mentorship sis good, as is getting out there and talking to other business people.”
Entrepreneurship is not dead, Matheson stressed. But it’s important on businesspeople, old and young, to support each other.
“Those of us at the end of our career have to help those business people get going,” he said, adding that it’s important for young people to “reach out, get their feet wet and learn.
“Entrepreneurship is alive and well.”
October 12 was a big day for the newest board of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce.
The newly elected and appointed members stood shoulder-to-shoulder on stage at Plaza 88. Police chief and master of ceremonies Troy Cooper stood off to one side, ready to swear in the newest leadership group.
“Do you swear to faithfully and truthfully perform your duties as a member of the board of directors of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, and will in all matters connected with the discharge of such duties, do such things and such things only as you shall truly and conscientiously believe to be adaptive to promote the objects for which said chamber was constituted according to the true intent and meeting of the same, so help you god.”
Cooper placed extra emphasis on the “so help you god.”
He was met by a mix of “I do” and “yes,” spoken, proclaimed and mumbled by the men and women on stage.
Cooper turned to the face the audience, seated at their tables.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “Your board of directors!”
There was applause, loud and excited, yet polite and controlled. The newly-minted board members walked back to their seats, except for Meghan Mayer. The proprietor of Salon Six and of Plaza 88 walked instead to the podium to deliver her first speech as chair.
Salon Six has only been around for seven years. Mayer was hesitant about joining the chamber when she got started. Those hesitations, she learned, were misplaced.
“I was young, and thought I didn’t know if I had the experience to do this, or if I could bring anything to the table,” Mayer said.
Seeking advice, Mayer called her dad. A minister and long-time business owner, her dad’s advice was to go for it.
“He said, ‘let me tell you this,’” Mayer recalled. “’The chamber in every city is so important. They’re advocates for business, they’re always looking for business development, how they can help businesses and business growth, they’re looking into government affairs, city affairs, they’re so important. There’s even stuff that goes on behind the scenes that you don’t know they’re working on. If you get a chance to sit on a board like that, it’s an honour.”
Mayer took his advice. It proved a valuable experience.
“I’ve learned so much. It was a huge learning curve to come on the board. I had to learn quickly and try to keep up,” Mayer said.
“One thing I did know, and I learned quickly, is the Chamber of Commerce did fight for business, they did care about the community and business growth and development. Like my father said, to sit on a board like that is an honour, and this tonight is an honour. I will, to the best of my ability, serve businesses and serve the community. I will work with the city police and the city itself.”
Thursday night’s swearing in was when Mayer and her fellow board members officially began their positions, and their work, as members of the board of directors for the chamber.
Along with Mayer, the chamber will be led by first vice chair Ian Litzenberger, second vice chair Jason Hurd, Secretary/treasurer Phil Hounjet, past chair Gordon Jahn and board-appointed director Robert Bratvold.
They will be joined on the board by Tracy Feher, Tom Seidenthal, Bill Powalinsky, Clayton Clark, Wesley Moore, Terry Dow and Tim Leson.
While their jobs have just begun, the board has a lot they can build upon.
Prior to the swearing-in, now past chair Gordon Jahn spoke about what the chamber has done over the past year.
“There have been numerous communications, contacts, meetings, events, emails, networking lunches — everyone of those things is meant to bring value to our members,” he said.
“In addition to events and networking opportunities, advocacy for the business community provinces members with value. Our chamber continues to be a strong voice for business within our community.”
Jahn said the board has advocated for policies to make the city more competitive and attractive to businesses. He mentioned the city’s high tax gap- the difference between property taxes for residents and those for business, something the chamber has been working hard to narrow.
“I think we’ve seen some progress,” Jahn said. “I’d like to think we’ve had some influence with our council and with our city administration, building respectful relationships and having respectful discussions, hopefully accomplishing some movement in metrics like that.”
The advocacy work is something Mayer takes seriously, and hopes to continue through her term.
“I would hope to work with the city in doing more business development, like the city has already been doing with the (new luxury hotel), but also getting tax rates lower and maybe a business incentive for new businesses coming into Prince Albert,” she said.
Mayer knows there’s a lot to learn as chair over the next few weeks. But she’ll have support, both from long-time board members and from chamber staff, such as CEO Larry Fladager, a former chair himself.
“We’ve begun the process with our new board members, and we have a great mix of members from a broad variety of business backgrounds,” he said.
“In the next few months, we’re going to do a lot of work around planning some of the things we’re going to do to add value to our membership base. I’m so pleased to be engaged in that process with them.”
Mayer is excited about what the next year holds for her as chair. She’s pleased to be able to serve her community in a new way.
“This city has an amazing group of business leaders,” she said. “It is amazing to be able to serve the community and serve businesses in Prince Albert. It feels awesome.”
This article originally appeared in the October 14 print and e-edition of the Prince Albert Daily Herald.
The banks of the Little Red River are getting a facelift.
Work is underway in Little Red River Park to stabilize the riverbank in response to years of erosion and damage caused from damming the river during the Husky Oil Spill last year.
The work has been ongoing for several weeks, and is set to be completed by the first few weeks of November
“During the oil spill we had dammed off Little Red near the bottom of the toboggan hill area. That led to water being backed up for a couple of months,” said Jeff Da Silva, engineering services manager with the city.
“That led to some erosion of the river bank. Downstream of that, there was some erosion from a previous event, and the city decided it would tackle riverbank stabilization on that side as well.”
According to information provided by the city, the infrastructure projects will protect riverbanks and infrastructure from erosion and high flow events, improve the ecological function of the water course by addressing erosion conditions, improve the habitat for fish and other animals, and improve water quality, re-establish native grasses, shrubs and trees along the riverbank to protect against erosion and regain space for walking trails.
The $1.18 million construction project is funded through the Pehonan Parkway reserve fund ($436,000) and from contributions from Husky Oil ($749,000).
For more on this story, please see the October 18 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.
This week is a special one for the province’s libraries.
Saskatchewan Library Week runs from Oct. 15-21 and libraries across the province will mark it in their own ways.
Michael Shires, who serves as the president of the Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA) said the week has a few messages.
“It helps the association to justify why libraries of all types … are important to the community but in particular public libraries,” he said.
Shire explained that public libraries in particular are especially important in the current day and age as they offer a something special.
“It’s one of the few places left in society where you’re not being asked to buy something,” he said.
Shire said Saskatchewan Library Week is one of the oldest traditions that the organization has going, but despite it being around for a long time, it is still running strong and growing. This year the SLA was able to give out more grants than they had in previous years; 20 in total to libraries all across the province. In past years the organization was only able to provide funding for ten programs. This extra money allows many of these libraries to offer something new and unique to help celebrate the week. The SLA also experimented on the promotional side this year.
“For the first time, we have a Saskatchewan Library Association promotional poster in the Cree language,” he said.
Shire said the most important thing that a person takes from library week depends on who they are. He explained that young children can experience storytelling, while young people can get homework help and newcomers can come and get help learning English.
Prince Albert’s John M. Cuelenaere Public Library is holding a book sale to celebrate library week. While there aren’t many special events at the local branch to celebrate libraries, director Alex Juorio said the week is a good time to take in all the services the library ha to offer.
“It’s a valuable cultural asset in the landscape of city services. We have the support of the community,” Juorio said, citing the large number of people coming through the doors every month.
For more on this story, please see the October 18 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald
NDP leadership candidate Trent Wotherspoon is pledging to provide support to northern communities, including financial and logistical support, if he were to become the province’s next NDP premier.
Wotherspoon was in La Ronge Monday to meet with northern leaders and to unveil his plan for the province’s north. He pledged to bring back the Ministry of Northern Affairs and promised core funding for the Northern Trappers’ Association.
Wotherspoon was off to Meadow Lake Tuesday, stopping in Prince Albert to meet with Mayor Greg Dionne and chat with media.
“It was a great day yesterday,” Wotherspoon said.
“I was able to stand together with my colleague Doyle Vermette and announce a commitment to build back the Ministry of Northern Affairs to work with northern people in northern communities, and organize the efforts of government through crown corporations and ministries.”
Wotherspoon acknowledged the province’s north faces many challenges, but also emphasized the “tremendous strength and possibility and potential within the north.”
He also accused the governing Saskatchewan Party of ignoring their northern neighbours.
“We have a government right now that’s neglected the north and thinks they can make all the decisions out of the premier’s office,” Wotherspoon said. “That’s just doesn’t work for the north.”
Wotherspoon said the ministry had been reduced over years of neglect, but recently had been all but done in by the Sask. Party. He spoke of empty offices in the north, and what he described as a premier’s office with little understanding, relationship or collaboration with northerners.
“We have real challenges we need to tackle throughout the north. I have a serious commitment around advancing mental health services and addiction services in a universal way with wraparound supports and different emergency approaches along with that,” he said.
“The only way you’re going to succeed with proposals like that, or others from an education or economic perspective, is working hand-in-hand with northerners.”
Hi plan to provide core funding to the Northern Trappers’ Association will allow them to properly organize and work with government to take advantage of their role as stewards of the land.
‘This will be a bit of a new commitment,” Wotherspoon said.
“They are a tremendous resources. The 4,100 trappers have immense knowledge of the land. They are on the land on the frontlines of observing changes to our climate and changes environmentally. They also play a very important role in the health of the north.”
Wotherspoon indicated the trappers could be mobilitzed to help the province monitor environmental changes. He also praised their work in maintaining northern heritage.
“They lay a very important role in the social health of the north, the ability for young people and families to connect with the land in a traditional way on trap lines. Hunting and fishing is a positive, healthy activity that brings a lot of health to many who are suffering,” he said.
‘This is an important heritage industry, important from an economic perspective, but certainly from a social and cultural perspective as well.”
Wotherspoon is running for NDP leadership against fellow caucus member Ryan Meili.
Both have vied for the position in the past.
Wotherspoon is the only one of the pair to release a northern strategy to this point, though Meili has promised to re-establish a Ministry of First nations and Métis Relations.
NDP members will vote on their next leader at the leadership convention on March 3, 2018 at the Delta Hotel in Regina.
The Sask. Party is also in a leadership race, where the winner will take over from Brad Wall as premier of Saskatchewan.
Sask. Party leadership candidate Tina Beaudry-Mellor also visited northern Saskatchewan as a part of her campaign. She visited Pinehouse Lake and unveiled her plan for the north about two weeks ago.
Beaudry-Mellor said her plan will provide northern Saskatchewan communities with resources to help eliminate poverty, low graduation rates and high birth rates.
The Sask. Party choses their new leader on Jan. 27.
Wotherspoon also added to his growing list of endorsements Tuesday.
Saskatchewan Professional Firefighters’ Association gave their endorsement.
“Trent is a person I’ve known for many years and he’s shown that he has the vision, integrity, and leadership to be a great premier,” said Lloyd Zwack, association president.
“Trent works as hard as any firefighter I know, and it’s obvious to everyone who meets him that Trent wants to build a province that works for everyone.”
The association represents over 900 professional firefighters and paramedics in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, North Battleford, Yorkton and Weyburn
This past weekend people got together with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving.
As a part of that, many of my online friends took to Facebook to post about what they’re thankful for.
Reading some of the posts Sunday morning, it was hard for me, at first, to relate. I was sitting at my desk in my office chair; hard at work to make sure you would have a paper today.
Long weekends as a journalist are often spent in the office. Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean life or the world stops. Nurses and emergency personnel are hard at work. Coffee shops and grocery stores need to be staffed. And newspapers.
Holidays are usually a hard time for me. My family is far away in Ontario. I only see them once, maybe twice, a year. Growing up, family was incredibly important. Many lasting memories were formed at Thanksgivings and Christmases and Canada Days an Easters, of gathering, joking, playing cards, eating and singing together.
I write this not because I’m looking for sympathy, but because reflecting on where I am, and what I have, made me even more thankful this year.
This was the first holiday away that I didn’t feel alone (well, except for last year when my parents and brother joined me in Moose Jaw for Thanksgiving).
While there were certainly some friends and small social circles when I worked in Moose Jaw and in Cold Lake, of everywhere I’ve worked in my young journalism career, P.A. is where I’ve really come into my own.
Thanks to the people in this city, I’ve developed a solid social circle and I’ve never run out of things to do.
People who say there is nothing to do in Prince Albert have blinders on. There’s no other explanation for it. Consider two weekends ago. We had three people running around all weekend trying to cover as many events as possible and we still barely kept up. Even last weekend, there were two art openings at the exact same time.
This is happening city with tons to do, and great people to do it with.
So when I think about Thanksgiving, and what I’m thankful for, on a basic level I’m thankful to have a job I love, a roof over my head and a full stomach.
But on a deeper level, I’m thankful for the city in which I live, my fabulous coworkers, close friends and the opportunity to succeed this place has provided me.
Growing up, Dane Sanderson loved to play sports.
He played several different sports, but volleyball is where he really succeeded, playing on Team Sask. in the summer, eventually playing one year of competitive volleyball at the University of Regina.
While sports were an important part of his life, it wasn’t always easy for his family to afford the registration fees associated with the activities he loved.
That’s where KidSport came in.
“When times were a little tougher we got KidSport to help us. That allowed me to play on Team Sask. throughout the summers,” Sanderson, who is now the marketing manager at Lakeland Ford and Lakeland Hyundai, said.
“I know personally, it was awesome help, knowing that I would be able to play sport. It gives you that sense of pride that you’re still able to play.”
Sanderson and Lakeland Ford played host to Kidsport, S.H.A.R.E., Dream Brokers, Gene’s Cycle and Sports and representatives from the City of Prince Albert Thursday to announce the launch of a new program aimed at providing sports equipment to families who cannot afford it.
The program, called Play it Forward, is a partnership between KidSport, S.H.A.R.E, Dream Brokers, Lakeland Ford, Lakeland Hyundai, Gene’s and the city.
Dwight Bergstom has been the chair of the local KidSport chapter for about a year and a half. For Bergstrom, the need for a program like Play it Forward quickly became clear.
“The big need for kids was support with registration fees. But the other barrier our community recognized very quickly was the cost of equipment.”
“I knew KidSport didn’t have the resources, but I knew S.H.A.R.E. did.”
Bergstrom met with S.H.A.R.E. and the representatives with Lakeland Ford. They then looked at what worked in other communities, finding the Comries Equipment Bank in Calgary and wanted to replicate it.
They got in touch with the program in Calgary, and got some ideas about how they could launch their own program. They also donated a bunch of spare hockey equipment to get the P.A. equipment bank going.
Play it Forward will be hoping to add to their collection Saturday. They are holding a collection day, with Gene’s Cycle and Sports, Source for Sports and Lakeland Ford collecting lightly used equipment for use in the local equipment bank. They’re hoping the event will give them a good head start to meet the needs of less fortunate families in the area.
“We’ve very excited about our first big day,” Bergstrom said. “We’re asking everybody in the city to try to get involved. Get into the garage, or the basement, or the closet, dig out whatever you’ve got and bring it to donate it.”
Anything that’s useful for kids in need will be distributed to those families. Any excess equipment will be sold, with the proceeds going to buy more equipment needed by the less fortunate in the area.
According to organizers, Value Village is also getting involved, donating what sports equipment they have.
Open trailers will be at each of those three businesses during regular hours Saturday for collection. The equipment will be warehoused at S.H.A.R.E., which will also help distribute needed equipment and sell anything extra.
If people aren’t able to make it to the equipment drive Saturday, they’ll be able to donate throughout the year. Lakeland Ford and S.H.A.R.E. have agreed to be collection points throughout the year. The city is also working on putting out collection boxes in the Dave Steuart and Kinsmen Arenas as well as the Alfred Jenkins Field House.
The need is great. KidSport supported 412 kids in 2016, most receiving about $250 to help with registration.
But that doesn’t cover equipment. And for families with children in hockey or lacrosse, those costs can skyrocket. A new set of hockey equipment can cost $300 on the extreme low end, and as much as over $1,000.
Even equipment for soccer or baseball – things like cleats, helmets, shin guards, gloves and other equipment, can get into the hundreds of dollars.
Those who work closely with families see the difference being able to play a sport or participate in the arts can have on children.
“It means the world to them,” said Neru Franc, who works with the Dream Brokers organization. Dream Brokers works to remove barriers for students, whether they be registration, the cost of equipment or supplies, or transportation, who want to participate in sports or arts and culture activities, but can’t.
“I have amazing kids who have never played soccer, who weren’t able to go into dance or an art program, and they are ecstatic,” Franc continued.
“For us to be able to fund 100 per cent of their costs in sport, recreation and culture, it takes the stress off. It builds confidence. You actually see a whole different child and family because of the opportunities they’re able to access.
Having something like an equipment bank means the money raised by these organizations can be focused on funding registration fees alone, which are often less expensive than the equipment itself.
For those like Sanderson who know what it’s like to need a little help, being in a position now to provide that assistance is fantastic.
“It’s definitely a great opportunity,” Sanderson said. “Now that I’m in a position where I’m able to give back, Kidsport was definitely one of the organizations I wanted to give back to. Play it Forward allows them to get that equipment they otherwise wouldn’t have had. It’s that extra help that will definitely allow kids to play more sports, and it will help their families out.”
A two month drug trafficking investigation netted over a kilogram of cocaine and has led to the arrest of five Saskatchewanians, police announced Friday.
The Saskatchewan Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit Prince Albert wrapped up the investigation Wednesday, with the assistance from the Saskatoon unit and the Rosthern RCMP. Five people, including four from Prince Albert, have been arrested and face multiple charges.
Investigators seized 1,299 grams (1.299 kilograms) of cocaine, $4,730 in cash, 21 grams of marijuana and a switchblade.
Nathan Harvey Peeteetuce, 27, of Prince Albert is charged with:
Benjamin Anthony Henry, 23 of Prince Albert is charged with:
Dorie Kirk Lidguerre, 29 and Christopher Martin Napope, 62, both of Prince Albert, are each facing a charge of possession for the purposeing of trafficking, while Saskatoon resident Anderson Jamal Murrell, 27, is facing a charge of trafficking cocaine.
Peeteetuce and Henry appeared in court Friday morning. Lidguerre and Napope are due in P.A. court Monday and Murrell appeared in Saskatoon court yesterday.
The Saskatchewan Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (SCFSEU) is a province-wide integrated police task force formed to investigate existing and emerging organized crime groups. Units are located in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert with a mandate to target, disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations.
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