Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Final sales going “as planned” for Zellers

By Lisa Goudy


Things are going as the company has anticipated for the final closing sales at Zellers at the Town ‘n’ Country Mall.

“Clearance has started as of Boxing Day,” said Tiffany Bourré, external communications manager at Hudson’s Bay Company.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Weekend Extra: Weatherradio

By Lisa Goudy


When the power goes out several hours before a tornado, or a storm like Superstorm Sandy hits, a warning system would come in handy.

Environment Canada (EC) has a 24-hour-Weatherradio service that sends out weather warnings of impending conditions to people who have a Weatherradio and are in an area in range of a transmitter. The transmitters hit 93 per cent of Canadians, but Moose Jaw misses the signal.

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Information on Weatherradio provided by Environment Canada

Information on the National Weather Service's Weatherradio in the U.S.

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Positive feedback for detox centre

By Lisa Goudy

Everything has been running smoothly at the Wakamow Manor detoxification centre.

“We have great feedback from the community,” said program director Chad Topp. “We have social educational programming throughout the whole day that helps the individuals build a structure and routine in their lives and provide them a stable base in the start of their recovery in their detox.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: Finding a balance at year’s end

By Lisa Goudy


It’s funny how the best things seem to come up near the end of the year.

Suddenly we start seeing the best photos of 2012 and most of them are amazing. We see lists of the most-read stories of the year, the best movies of the year or who is the No. 1 newsmaker of the year and anything else you can think of, including things from your personal life. A lot of time is spent reflecting on the past year for a good chunk of December.

I’m not against seeing all of those things. I actually find quite a few of them rather interesting. However, two things come to mind. Firstly, there is a tendency for people to forget about the Christmas season. Secondly, we shouldn’t spend too much time pondering over the past or worrying about the future.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: 2012 campaign expenses and contributions varied

By Lisa Goudy


The current council as well as both mayoral candidates spent a varying amount of money in the 2012 municipal election.

The Times-Herald surveyed the elected council members and the other mayoral candidate Fraser Tolmie regarding their campaign contributions and expenses.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: City had growth and challenges in 2012

Multi-family land major land difficulty for city

By Lisa Goudy


Excitement and challenges are the best ways to describe the year 2012 from the city’s perspective.

“It’s an exciting, challenging year to keep up with or ahead of the growth,” said city manager Garry McKay. “For the first time in decades … some new housing is now under construction in terms of rentals or multi-family ownership.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: A light in darkness

Birth of Christ the reason for the season

A manger display sits outside of St.
Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

For Rev. Douglas Hallman of Zion United Church, Christmas has an added meaning after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut.

“I think we realize how precious children are and how important they are in our lives,” said Hallman. “When you relate that to Christmas it means that one particular child had a tremendous impact on the world. (He) gave us hope and light and meaning and purpose and direction.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: City hoping for hotel destination-marketing fee by early 2013

By Lisa Goudy

By the early part of 2013, some Moose Jaw hotels might have a voluntary destination-marketing fee.

“We’re really at that tipping point. It’s either going to go or not go and I really am encouraged by the leadership shown by Temple Gardens (Mineral Spa) and Heritage Inn,” said Moose Jaw’s economic development officer Deb Thorn.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: A holly, jolly Snowglobe Christmas

Colder than normal temperatures expected to continue to January

By Lisa Goudy


Colder weather is on its way for the Christmas holidays.

“Christmas Day is what we could call Snowglobe Christmas. You’ve got snow on the ground. Then you’ve got snow in the air,” said David Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment Canada. “We’re going to have a white Christmas. That’s a done deal.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Many places and times to worship this Christmas

By Lisa Goudy


There are no shortages of Christmas Eve services taking place in Moose Jaw Monday.

A number of churches are holding special Christmas services for people to come and worship to celebrate the birth of Christ. 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: Get real — The world won't end today

By Lisa Goudy

There has been far too much talk of the end of the world.

The latest date that quite a few people have selected as the end of the world is today because it was believed the Mayan calendar ended and “predicted” it. However, for a multiple of scientific and cultural reasons, the world did not and will not end today. It is a waste of time and energy buying into yet another doomsday hoax. We should be spending our time living life to the fullest instead of worrying about nonsensical claims.

Read more

On this topic:

NASA 2012 "apocalypse" FAQ

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Empire Community School art club paints Christmas mural

Grade 6 Empire Community School students Abby
Busch (left), Marcetta Wells (centre) and Hailey
Cleave (right) were three of 10 students in the school's
art club that painted a Christmas greeting mural on
Greeting Card Lane along Langdon Crescent.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


For three Grade 6 students involved in painting a mural with their art club, the experience was fantastic.

“I’ve never done a mural so it was something different for me to experience,” said student Hailey Cleave. “I did enjoy it. So next year I hope we can do another one.”

“It was a fun opportunity for us to do,” added fellow student Marcetta Wells.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Encouraging a "good neighbour" policy with snow removal

By Lisa Goudy


With several more centimeters of snow on the ground comes more concerns with snow removal.

While there is a snow removal bylaw, there is no snow removal bylaw to force people to shovel the public sidewalks in front of their homes when it snows. Mayor Deb Higgins said at this time, there is no consideration of instituting a bylaw to force residents to shovel public sidewalks.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: City proposing to set up infrastructure deficit reserve fund

By Lisa Goudy


When it comes to infrastructure planning, the city’s next big move is the creation of the infrastructure deficit reserve fund.

“We’re looking at this fund to focus on core infrastructure. So that’s your hard roads, sidewalks — that type of thing,” said Mayor Deb Higgins. “Most people don’t realize we are given back those fees from the provincial government and through the Crowns.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Council Notebook

By Lisa Goudy

Council received an information update from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) at Monday’s regular council meeting.

Coun. Dawn Luhning, council representative on the SUMA board, provided the update regarding the proposed advocacy funding. The matter will be reviewed at the upcoming SUMA annual convention from Feb. 3 to 6. Luhning said the decision would directly affect how much the city would pay to SUMA.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: One last push for lunch campaign

By Lisa Goudy


Hunger in Moose Jaw’s I Bought Lunch campaign wraps up on Saturday.

Carol Acton, Hunger in Moose Jaw executive director, said the program has raised about $30,000 and staff are hopeful to reach their goal of $50,000. The only location left to donate to the campaign is at Hunger in Moose Jaw, 269 Stadacona St. W.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Working to increase voter turnout

Council passes motion for city to prepare report with alternatives for next election

Coun. Brian Swanson speaks about his
motion for administration to prepare a report
regarding possible alternatives for the 2016
election at Monday's council meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Voters are likely to see some changes in the next municipal election.

Council unanimously passed Coun. Brian Swanson’s motion for administration to prepare a report for executive committee by April 2013 regarding possible alternatives for the conduct of the next election.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Infrastructure, MOG major topics at mayor's caucus

By Lisa Goudy


Infrastructure and the municipal operating grant (MOG) were major topics at the recent meeting of the mayors’ caucus.

Mayor Deb Higgins presented the caucus report to council at Monday’s meeting. The caucus met in Regina on Dec. 4 and 5. Council voted to receive and file the report.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Warranty insurance motion defeated again

Coun. Don Mitchell discusses his reasons
for council to reconsider defeating a motion
that would make proof of third party home
warranty insurance mandatory before
the city would issue a building permit.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


The issue of proof of third party home warranty insurance before receiving a city building permit to build a new home was again a topic of discussion.

Prior to the approval of the minutes of the executive committee, Coun. Don Mitchell brought forward a motion to reconsider executive committee’s decision on Dec. 10 to vote against the requirement to prove third party warranty insurance.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: First look at 2013 operating budget estimates

Estimates include increase in property taxes

Director of financial services Brian Acker
presents the 2013 operating budget estimates
 to city council during Monday's meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Council got its first look at the proposed 2013 operating budget estimates. For the average taxpayer, property taxes would have to increase for the city to get additional funding.

During Monday’s regular city council meeting, director of financial services Brian Acker and city manager Garry McKay presented the estimates to council. The majority of council voted to refer the estimates to the budgetary committee for detailed review.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Reaching out to those in need

Owners Kevin and Monica Haakenson
 stand inside Bobby's Place.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

Bobby’s Place and St. Andrew’s to offer free dinner Christmas Day

By Lisa Goudy and Justin Crann

Monica Haakenson and her husband Kevin believe it’s vital to have a free meal for the less fortunate on Christmas Day.

“To me it’s just not a big deal,” said Haakenson, owner of Bobby’s Place. “I choose to do it because I want to do it … It’s just our way of reaching out to those who are less fortunate or alone or shut-ins.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Calling for Stocking Fund donations

By Lisa Goudy


The Times-Herald/Salvation Army Stocking Fund numbers are up a little bit compared to where they normally are at this time of year.

While the numbers are slightly higher, there is still a long way to go.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Backfilling on hold for Civic Centre Plaza project

Crews work away at the Civic Centre
Plaza Project site this week.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


The cold weather has added a delay in the backfilling process at the Civic Centre Plaza Project site.

“We’re kind of stopped as far as backfilling goes,” said Bill Babey, vice-president of Colliers International in Regina and spokesman for the project. 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Outdoor rinks ready to go

By Lisa Goudy


With the exception of Westheath, all of the city’s 15 outdoor rinks are up and running.

Robin Mitchell, administrator with the parks and recreation department, said Westheath would hopefully be ready to go by next week.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: Knowing when to shut off your cellphone and show respect

By Lisa Goudy


There is a reason people should turn off their cellphones before a movie in a theatre or a live production.

To be clear, I don’t mean during a hockey game, a football game, a baseball game or any other type of live sporting event. In those situations, it is perfectly acceptable to be on your phone doing whatever you please. That doesn’t disrupt anything because of the nature of the event.

But when you’re at a live event such as a theatre production or a vocal concert, a cellphone ringtone is disruptive and distracting. It might seem at first too much to ask given the nature of our seemingly cellphone-addicted society, but actually it isn’t. 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: The joys of being a kettle volunteer

Salvation Army kettle volunteer Gerry
Stonechild stands next to a kettle
station at Superstore on Thursday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

Local volunteer enjoys it more each year

By Lisa Goudy


Gerry Stonechild is in his seventh season of being a Salvation Army kettle volunteer and each year is better than the last.

“Every year I enjoy it more,” he said.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Salvation Army to prepare close to 200 hampers

Salvation Army Capt. Laurie Reilly prepares a Christmas
hamper at the Salvation Army warehouse on Thursday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


The Salvation Army elves are busy preparing hampers for struggling families.

“The generosity of Moose Jaw has been overwhelming,” said Salvation Army Capt. Laurie Reilly.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Proof of warranty not required to get a building permit

By Lisa Goudy

For homebuilders and contractors, there is still no requirement to have proof of third party home warranty insurance before receiving a city building permit to build a new home.

During Monday’s executive committee meeting, the majority of executive voted against Coun. Don Mitchell’s motion to require all building permit applicants wanting to build new dwellings to provide proof of membership in a third party new home warranty insurance program.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Province finishes Kingsway Dam repairs

By Lisa Goudy

As of Wednesday, the rehabilitation of the Kingsway Dam in Wakamow Valley is finished.

“The water up to Connor Park is going to be a stable source of water for recreation,” said Margaret Moran, acting CEO and manager of administration and community relations for Wakamow Valley Authority. “More importantly, it stabilizes the water system for that portion of the valley for wildlife ... It’s important to have a healthy ecosystem.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: City looking at having Wakamow manage campground

By Lisa Goudy

The city will look at having Wakamow Valley Authority take over management of the campground for 2013.

City manager Garry McKay reported that during the in-camera portion of Monday’s executive committee meeting, executive voted for the city to begin discussions with Wakamow to operate the River Park Campground next year.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: No second thoughts to save a life

Canadian Red Cross gives two Moose Jaw residents rescue awards

Patrick Boyle (left) and Bill Fraser (right)
received Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Awards
on Tuesday at Timothy Eaton Gardens.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Patrick Boyle didn’t hesitate to act when he noticed Marjorie Simington was choking.

“I looked up at Marjorie and saw she was in trouble and really panicking. I don’t know what it was, but I instantly reacted,” said Boyle, recalling the events of April 19. “My instant reaction was to help and try to make things better … I didn’t even know Marjorie.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: RIC looks to build an environment promoting healthy living

By Lisa Goudy

The Regional Intersectoral Committee (RIC) is looking at ways to promote healthy living.

The healthy active living committee, a subgroup of the RIC, held a healthy active living forum in June to identify ways to build a supportive environment for physical activity in the south central RIC.

Committee chair and local YMCA CEO Jeff Fox and RIC co-ordinator Christine Boyczuk presented three priorities to accomplish that goal to executive committee during Monday’s meeting.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Off-leash dog park location still to be approved

Gary Overs stands with Jack, a bouvier des flandres dog,
at Gary Overs Kennelling and Obedience on Monday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

Executive tables decision of location and proposed surcharge for six weeks

By Lisa Goudy

For Gary Overs of Gary Overs Kennelling and Obedience, one of the most important things in an off-leash dog park is space and following the rules.

“I think it’d be neat if everybody plays by the rules,” said Overs, citing an example of people cleaning up after their dogs. “We could use one.”

Details of choosing a location for an off-leash dog park were discussed during Monday’s executive committee meeting. 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Living on a roof for charity

Clayton Clysdale-Finnell stands inside Bright
 Side Electric on Friday. He will live on the Giant
Tiger roof for 30 hours beginning Saturday
at noon and ending Sunday at 6 p.m.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Clayton Clysdale-Finnell of Bright Side Electric doesn’t think it’s a big deal to sit on a roof to collect supplies for charity.

For the third year in a row, Clysdale-Finnell will live on a roof for 30 hours to gather toys and food for the local food bank and the Salvation Army.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Fire caused minimal damage at pork plant

Plant manager expects full production on Monday

By Lisa Goudy

Despite the fire on Thursday afternoon, operations at the Thunder Creek Pork Plant are expected to be back to full production by Monday.

“Monday we’ll have both kill and cut running at the same time,” said plant manager Kaye Kronebusch.

Read more

For more details on the fire, see the article, Fire breaks out at pork plant by reporter Joel van der Veen published in the Dec. 7 issue of the Times-Herald.

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Chateau St. Michael’s resident turning 100

Sarah Pouteaux, resident at Chateau
St. Michael's, is turning 100 on Monday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


As a woman who actively dances, exercises and quilts, it’s hard to imagine Sarah Pouteaux is turning 100.

“There’s one thing about growing old. Your memory’s not the same as it used to be,” said Pouteaux, a resident at Chateau St. Michael’s, which also turns 100 this year. “(I made it to 100 because of) the wonderful, loving grace and mercy of our wonderful God.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: Pearl Harbor not to be forgotten

By Lisa Goudy


It’s been 71 years to the day since the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

After 71 years, I suspect there are some people who might say it’s an anniversary so it comes around every year and what’s in the past is in the past.

Part of that would be true. The date of the Pearl Harbor attack comes around every year. I would argue, however, that we shouldn’t just leave it in the past or forget about it.

As for the Moose Jaw connection, there are a few. I found a post on an ancestry site where someone mentioned a Moose Jaw resident who died on the U.S.S. Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor in the Second World War. Whether it’s true or not is irrelevant. The attack still killed more than 2,000 citizens and wounded more than 1,000 in less than two hours.

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Official Pearl Harbor Memorial site

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Men have an active role in ending violence against women

Chief Warrant Officer and squadron chief of
the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron Alan Blakney
 speaks about men working to end violence against
women at the Moose Jaw Transition House
luncheon at Timothy Eaton Gardens on Thursday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

Positive role modeling and influence is key to helping prevent violence against women.

That was one of the main messages during Chief Warrant Officer and squadron chief of the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron Alan Blakney’s speech at a luncheon on Thursday at Timothy Eaton Gardens. His theme was men working to end violence against women.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Big Cliff still keeping time atop city hall

The city hall clock, dubbed Big
Cliff upon city employee Clifford
Simpson's retirement, still
keeps time at the top of city hall.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy 

By Lisa Goudy


In 2014, the clock at the top of city hall will turn 100.

Built in 1913, the clock was named Big Cliff after city maintenance employee Clifford Simpson in 1993. The clock was first set in motion at 10 a.m. on Aug. 7, 1914.

“It’s an internal thing at the end of the day. It’s not a public thing,” city operations manager Kelly Mentanko said of the clock's nickname.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Council Notebook

By Lisa Goudy


At Monday’s regular council meeting, council unanimously approved a request for free metered parking during certain days in the Christmas season.

The request came from Brian Martynook, CEO of the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of the chamber to offer free two-hour metered parking to promote shopping in Moose Jaw during the Christmas season as it was done for the past number of years.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Building permits up in November

By Lisa Goudy


The most valuable building permit the City of Moose Jaw issued in November allows Paice Construction, Ltd., to construct a $1.1-million low-hazard warehouse at 1420 Athabasca St. E.

The second most valuable building permit the city issued in November allows Century West Construction to build the shell only of a new restaurant at 857 Thatcher Dr. E. at a cost of $850,000.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: New bylaw in the works for campaign transparency

Expense and contribution regulations to be created in city bylaw

During Monday's council meeting,
Coun. Don Mitchell discusses his motion
regarding campaign contributions and
expenses disclosure and expense limits.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

A new bylaw is officially in the works for public disclosure of election campaign expenses and contributions.

During Monday’s regular council meeting, council voted in favour of two of four parts of Coun. Don Mitchell’s motion to introduce a bylaw to address election contribution disclosure and expense limits for mayoral and council candidates. While the basic initiation of creating a bylaw was approved unanimously, there was some dissent on certain details.

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Additional information

In city clerk/solicitor Myron Gulka-Tiechko’s report to council, it stated the public policy underlying that type of bylaw is to have transparency to “maintain a level playing field” and to avoid the situation where a “special interest can exert exceptional influence.”

In the report an extreme example was that a land developer could provide a large contribution to a certain candidate to allow the candidate to do extensive advertising, increasing name recognition and likely election prospects.

Under the bylaw, the developer contribution would be public record and there would be more public scrutiny.

In Saskatchewan, Regina and Saskatoon are the only cities with spending limit and campaign disclosure bylaws. Their bylaws dictate the contributions and expenses must be disclosed in a defined period after voting day. In Regina, the mayoral spending limit is $62,635 and $10,439 for council candidates. Those figures are adjusted annually based on the consumer price index.

In Saskatoon, the mayoral spending limit is 75 cents per resident and ten per cent of that figure for councillors. For example, if a population were 235,000 the mayoral limit would be $176,250 and $17,625 for councillors. Election reporting must be audited for the mayoral candidates.

The reason other cities have not done do is generally that spending is not an issue and there hasn’t been any perception that special interests are undermining the elections. The report said the city would need to consider population size and to consider that councillors will run at-large rather than in wards like in Regina and Saskatoon.

The report stated enforcement of the bylaw would be central. Legislation provides the authority to remove an elected member, including for campaign spending and disclosure breaches. Mitchell’s motion suggested a voluntary survey to all candidates in the most recent election to gather information for an appropriate spending recommendation. However, responses would be voluntary.

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Health region updated with preliminary hospital block plan

By Lisa Goudy


The Five Hills Health Region has completed a preliminary general layout for Moose Jaw's new hospital, which was presented to board members at a recent meeting.

“It’s a pretty interesting design," said Bert Linklater, the health region's senior executive director of operations.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Council hears library budget estimates for 2013

By Lisa Goudy


The public library’s estimated 2013 operating budgets are higher than in 2012, city council heard at its regular meeting on Monday.

According to a letter from Karon Selzer, head librarian of the Moose Jaw Public Library, the library’s overall budget estimates for 2013 from the city total $1.04 million. 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Moose Jaw bulk facility to provide more fuel to area

By Lisa Goudy

Moose Jaw and area farmers will soon have more access to fuel.

“There’s a new Co-op owned bulk fuel plant to be constructed in Moose Jaw,” said Daryl Oshanek, spokesperson for Federated Co-op. 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Water, sewer rates to increase nine per cent

Coun. Brian Swanson talks about his motion
to rescind the scheduled nine per cent water
and sewer rate increases in 2013 during
Monday's regular city council meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Residents will still have to pay higher water and sewer rates in 2013.

During Monday’s regular council meeting, the majority of council defeated Coun. Brian Swanson’s motion to rescind the nine per cent water and sewer rates to be implemented effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Read more

Additional information

In a report to council from the financial services department, it stated Moose Jaw is one of many communities faced with increased operating and capital costs associated with providing safe drinking water and clean sewer systems.

Inflation and increased maintenance costs because of aging infrastructure have played a role in that increase. Also, new infrastructure such as the wastewater treatment plant and the Stadacona sewer line has caused the rates to increase.

The report said the city is also planning to upgrade the Buffalo Pound pipeline rehabilitation and the Buffalo Pound treatment plant upgrades. As outlined in the five-year capital plan from 2012 to 2016, the water utility reserve has been allocated $30.84 million over five years and the sanitary sewage utility has $12.05 million over five years.

The report said the surplus from the water and sewer utilities operating budget is a “significant portion of the funding for the capital projects.” If the revenue from the operating budget were decreased, a number of projects will be deleted or deferred to function within the funding parameters of a rescinded 2013 water and sewer rate increase.

The report said by eliminating the scheduled increases, the water utility would lose $500,000 in additional revenue for 2013 and in future years. It would eliminate $435,000 from the sewer utility in 2013 and in the future as well.