Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Taking a stand against bullying

Travis Price, co-founder of Pink Shirt Day, speaks to students

Travis Price, co-founder of Pink Shirt Day, interacts
with some kids at the student rally at YaraCentre
on April 9, 2014, which was Day of Pink.
 Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Travis Price spent a lot of time alone when he was bullied.

In 2007 in Nova Scotia, he and his friend David Shepherd decided to organize a movement after a student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school.

“We wanted to do something for him, but we didn’t want to be reactive and say, ‘We’re going to beat up the bullies.’ We wanted to make a statement proactively,” said Price. “That’s where the idea of going out and buying and wearing pink shirts with the idea that they can’t bully all of us. Since then it’s grown.”

Six million people in 13 countries stand in solidarity for the annual Day of Pink every April 9.
On Wednesday, Price was one of the speakers at the student rally at YaraCentre for 400 students from Moose Jaw and Rouleau.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Minimal flooding risk in Moose Jaw

EMO co-ordinator says data indicates water levels declining

By Lisa Goudy


There is a small chance of major flooding in Moose Jaw this year.

“We have a couple spots that are earmarked on the waterway in the Moose Jaw River as it’s coming into the city that give us that 24-hour heads up as to what kind of conditions we can see here in the city,” said Brian Wilson, emergency measure organization (EMO) co-ordinator and deputy fire chief with the Moose Jaw Fire Department.

“So far we’re not seeing anything that’s alarming. The water levels in Thunder Creek and the Moose Jaw River, certainly the data that we’re seeing at this stage of the game appear to have already peaked or reached that crest and are starting to decline.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Looking out for victims of crime

First trauma K9 in Canada visits Taking Action for Victims luncheon

Kim Gramlich, victim services co-ordinator
with the Delta Police Victim Services in British
Columbia, poses with Caber, her trauma K9, in
the Macoun Lounge at SIAST on April 8, 2014. She
made a presentation at the Taking Action for
Victims luncheon to coincide with National Victims
of Crime Awareness Week held April 6 to 12.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

There is a reason dogs are known as peoples’ best friends.

“Dogs can help people in a way that human beings cannot. Dogs connect with human beings on a different level than other humans do,” said Kim Gramlich, victim services co-ordinator with the Delta Police Victim Services in British Columbia. “There is this kind of unconditional love and acceptance instantly upon meeting them where as with me and a client, there isn’t that same level of connection.

“Maybe eventually we can develop more of a sort of trusting relationship, but in the first instance, I’m still a stranger.”

Gramlich, along with her partner, a yellow Labrador retriever named Caber, did a presentation at the Taking Action for Victims luncheon in the Macoun Lounge at SIAST on Tuesday. The Moose Jaw Partners Against Violence Committee put on the luncheon to coincide with National Victims of Crime Awareness Week held April 6 to 12.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Four traffic bylaw amendments passed

Coun. Don Mitchell speaks at the
April 7, 2014 council meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

The school bus loading zone sign at Prince Arthur Community School will be relocated.

Council passed an amendment to the traffic bylaw, No. 4230, to relocate the sign to make sure there is enough space for school buses to load and unload passengers.

At the Oct. 15, 2013 council meeting, council adopted a resolution after considering the report of the transportation services advisory committee. It was one of the bylaws that came forward as a result of that resolution at Monday’s meeting.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Council cancels speculative housing program

Coun. Patrick Boyle explains why he
believes the speculative housing
program should be cancelled at the
April 7, 2014 council meeting at city hall.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

A week ago, executive committee voted to keep the speculative housing program as is. At Monday’s council meeting, council cancelled the program unanimously.

“Before this, we didn’t have a chance to talk to anyone in the community about this a little bit more and after doing some of that discussion with them, I think the program has ran its course,” said Coun. Patrick Boyle, who requested the revote on the motion previously moved by Coun. Dawn Luhning at last week’s executive committee meeting.

“Based on what we’re seeing in Saskatoon and Regina, I think this is something we can do away with right now. That doesn’t preclude us from another program coming.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Fewer building permits, higher value in March

By Lisa Goudy


A new grain elevator will be built in city limits.

Valued at $3.66 million, the city issued a permit for a new grain elevator in March.

There was also a permit for an alteration, repair or addition for a grain elevator. That permit is valued at $2.90 million.

Those were two of 23 permits the City of Moose Jaw issued in March valued at $10.07 million. In March 2013, the city issued 25 permits worth $6.02 million.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: Dream on and fight for equality

By Lisa Goudy

Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the balcony in front of his room at the Lorraine Motel when he was assassinated 46 years ago today.

 

It was 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tenn. After being shot, he was immediately transported to a hospital, but at 7:05 p.m., he was pronounced dead.

 

He was 39 years old. He’d spent his life fighting for civil rights, spearheading the movement. The Civil Rights Act was signed in 1964. The act stated that “discrimination based on 'race, color, religion, or national origin' in public establishments (hotels, motels, trailer parks, restaurants, gas stations, bars, taverns, and places of entertainment) that has a connection to interstate commerce or is supported by the state is prohibited.”

 

However, as far as we have come since the 1960s, we still haven’t achieved true equality. There is more work to do.

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