Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Executive tables water treatment plant report

By Lisa Goudy


Future discussion surrounding the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant is going to have to wait.

During Monday’s meeting, executive committee unanimously voted to table the report regarding the capital cost allocation of the treatment plant pending a report explaining why the upgrades have been delayed.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Taking steps to solve clarifier icing problem

Executive committee discusses an item
on Monday's meeting agenda at city hall.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


The wastewater treatment plant has a cost of $370,971 to fix the icing problem with the water clarifiers, according to a report from the engineering department.

Executive voted to receive and file the report during Monday’s meeting. It gave authorization for the engineering department to spend $1 million on the clarifier cover at the plant. The clarifiers were damaged in December 2009 because of cold weather.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Discussing conduct of next civic election

City clerk/solicitor Myron Gulka-Tiechko
explains the aspects of his report regarding
the conduct of the 2016 municipal election at
Monday's executive committee meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

The next civic election isn’t until 2016, but executive decided on a number of possibilities for conduct of the election.

City clerk/solicitor Myron Gulka-Tiechko presented his report to executive during Monday’s meeting. Executive passed a number of motions.

“It’s kind of fresh in our minds now to make any changes that we want to make now versus three years from now,” said Coun. Dawn Luhning who made a number of the motions at the meeting.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Student pilots help with flooding preparations

15 Wing pilots move sandbags around a Wakamow Valley home

15 Wing student pilot 2nd-Lt. Chris Dufault passes a
sandbag to 2nd-Lt. John Levesque at a home on
Wellesley Drive in Wakamow Valley on Saturday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


By Sunday afternoon there was essentially no ice remaining on the Moose Jaw River and no major flooding as of yet.

Despite the current situation, Wakamow Valley residents are still getting ready for the worst in the event of possible flooding in the near future.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Fighting for improved workplace safety

Moose Jaw and District Labour Council president
Stacey Landin watches as Mayor Deb Higgins lays
a wreath at the Day of Mourning Ceremony outside
of the Moose Jaw Union Centre on Sunday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

A plaque on the cairn in front of the Moose Jaw Union Centre reads “Mourn for the dead. Fight for the living.”

The Moose Jaw and District Labour Council (MJDLC) held its annual Day of Mourning ceremony at the centre on Sunday. The nationally recognized day is for workers killed or injured on the job.

“You go to a funeral, but that doesn’t end the loss. We need to be vigilant and fight for those in the workplace,” said Stacey Landin, MJDLC president. 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Steady stream of people at Focus on Trade 2013

Sahara Spa employee Jada-Rae Lynnes stands by the
company's booth at Focus on Trade 2013 on Saturday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


All types of businesses and organizations gathered in one place on Saturday and Sunday at the Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre at Mosaic Place.

“It’s just a not for profit fundraiser that we do and it’s just a way to get Moose Jaw and surrounding areas together to showcase what we have to offer,” said Krista Olafson, one of the co-ordinators for the weekend's 31st annual trade fair, Focus on Trade 2013.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Sports memorabilia store opens downtown

Ultimate Fan Zone employees Debbie Rowley (left) and
Payton Carleton stand in front of a selection of hats
in the store during its grand opening on Saturday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Sports apparel and collectibles can now be purchased in Moose Jaw.

The store Ultimate Fan Zone had its grand opening on Saturday. The store features items from sports leagues such as the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Showcasing creativity and talent at quilters’ show

Featured quilter Heather Grover stands with some of
her quilts at the 12th annual Prairie Hearts Quilters’
Guild biennial judged quilt show at the Moose Jaw
Exhibition Grounds Convention Centre on Saturday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

For quilter Heather Grover, the hobby opens up a brand new world.

“I think I love the freedom of being able to just kind of do whatever you want. Quilting has changed so much,” said Grover. “My first quilt I was making paper templates and I was cutting them out with scissors. Now we have plastic rulers and rotary covers and the sky’s the limit as to what we can do.”

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For more of my photos from the show, see the Times-Herald slideshow here.

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: More multimedia Juno Awards 2013 coverage

By Lisa Goudy

I covered a lot of events related to the 2013 Juno Awards for the Moose Jaw Times-Herald.

Some of those duties included shooting some video at the Juno Cup NHL Greats vs. the Rockers on April 19 at Mosaic Place, a press conference question and answer period with Junos host Michael Bublé on April 20 and backstage interviews and photos for the actual awards broadcast on April 21.

Below are some links to more of my multimedia relating to the Junos this year. The first is a slideshow of my Juno images and the two videos were shot at the Juno Cup game.

Juno Awards 2013 behind-the-scenes photo slideshow

Juno Cup First Goal

Juno Cup Sing-off: Jim Cuddy vs. Mark Napier

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: City and province prepare for spring flooding

Sandbags are piled high in front of a Wakamow
Valley resident's home on Friday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

WSA expects levels may surpass 2011 peaks

By Lisa Goudy

With double-digit temperatures hitting the City of Moose Jaw, a lot of municipal and provincial flood preparation is underway.

“In Moose Jaw, and sort of Regina, we’re going to see levels approach 2011 and possibly go above that,” said Water Security Agency (WSA) spokesman Patrick Boyle. “So it really depends on the weather. We’re somewhat at the mercy of Mother Nature.”

Around noon on Friday, the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure was notified that a portion of Highway 2 located 14 kilometres south of Moose Jaw was underwater, according to Doug Wakabayashi, assistant director of communications for the ministry.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: Don’t wait until later

By Lisa Goudy


What a week this has been.

For the most part it actually included nothing much out of the ordinary. With the exception of the past weekend, when I covered a variety of Juno events, the week consisted of busy schedules, deadlines, phone calls, writing and photos.

Except it wasn’t exactly normal. That is all the more reason we should take advantage of moments or opportunities as they present themselves to us and not keep putting it off.

The first thing that made this week not exactly normal was how, on Thursday, it really started to feel like spring outside. After such a brutal winter with record snowfall and an April the Weather Network deemed the coldest in a century, I couldn’t be more excited to see the snow disappearing and the weather warming up.

Even though I’m fully aware how much flooding could potentially take place, I’m so happy to see spring at last. Hopefully people are prepared for the possible flooding because the time is pretty much upon us now. If the forecast for the weekend are correct, it’s going to hit 18 C on Saturday.

But what was even more exciting for me was reveling in the after effects of my Juno-filled weekend. I spent most of the week still buzzing from excitement.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Teaching kids to learn one chapter at a time

Canadian author John Wilson speaks at Cornerstone
Christian School on Thursday afternoon. He is one
of four Canadian authors scheduled to speak Thursday
night as part of the Reading Together 2013 convention.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


The 44th annual Saskatchewan Reading Council convention arrived in Moose Jaw for the first time on Thursday.

“It’s to bring teachers together to talk about reading, not only as in why we want kids to read, but on how teachers can go about teaching strategies and motivating students, because in order to be able to learn, you have to be able to read,” said Amanda Hassen, conference co-chair and curriculum instruction and assessment consultant for the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Executive passes two-year commercial property phase-in program

Committee approves several 2013 tax policy items

Director of financial services Brian Acker
and city treasurer Brenda Hendrickson
discuss the 2013 proposed tax policy at
Wednesday's executive committee meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

Executive committee made some decisions about the 2013 proposed tax policy during Wednesday’s meeting.

“It’s really just the commercial properties where we had some concerns. There was major shifts in assessment changes,” said Brian Acker, director of financial services. 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Keeping up the pressure for the hyperbaric chamber

Doctor continues campaign to include unit in new hospital

Dr. David Amies is a strong supporter of including
the hyperbaric unit in the new hospital.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

Dr. David Amies said Wednesday he won't stop pushing for the hyperbaric chamber to be included in Moose Jaw's new hospital.

“The hospital keeps saying that all voices have been heard, that they’ve been listening to different segments of the hospital staff, but they’ve repeatedly ignored calls for the inclusion of the hyperbaric unit in the new hospital plan,” said Amies in an interview with the Times-Herald.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Council Notebook

Water treatment plant cost allocation report referred back to executive

Council is pictured during Monday's regular meeting at city hall.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant capital cost allocation will be up for discussion once more at the executive committee meeting.

The majority of council voted in favour of Coun. Brian Swanson’s motion to refer the report from executive committee concerning the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant capital cost allocation back to the committee at Monday’s meeting.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: No financial statement change for cultural centre, library and art gallery

Swanson argues city-paid revenues and expenses should be included for transparency

Coun. Dawn Luhning shares her thoughts on Coun. Brian
Swanson's motion for city-paid revenues and expenses
to be included in the financial statements of the Moose Jaw
Cultural Centre, Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery and the
Moose Jaw Public Library at Monday's council meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

Revenues and expenses for utilities and building maintenance paid by the city won’t be included in annual financial statements of the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre (MJCC), the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery (MJMAG) and the Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL).

Coun. Brian Swanson’s motion was defeated during Monday’s regular council meeting. Swanson said the city received the financial statements of the organizations, but there was no mention of the approximate $600,000 the city spent on those facilities in addition to the operating grant.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Motif may be cancelled this year

By Lisa Goudy


The future of Motif this year is in jeopardy.

“An initial decision was made that the event would not be held this summer because there wasn’t enough groups participating,” said Coun. Don Mitchell during Monday’s council meeting when he was speaking to the minutes of the cultural diversity committee.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Council approves $1.5 million for multiplex enhancements

Majority of councillors pass capital budget passed as amended

Coun. Brian Swanson discusses his reasoning for council
to revote on budget committee's decision to use $1.5
million for multiplex enhancements at Monday's meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

The 2013-2017 capital budget has officially been passed.

The majority of council approved the budget as amended during Monday’s council meeting, but it didn’t pass without a lengthy discussion.

Coun. Brian Swanson asked for a revote regarding the allocation of the $1.5 million initially designated to the multiplex budget that budget committee voted to have it used for capital project enhancements at Mosaic Place and YaraCentre with a report back to council by June 15.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Local author a finalist for Unhanged Arthur award

By Lisa Goudy

Moose Jaw writer Ilonka Halsband is one of three finalists for the national Unhanged Arthur award for best-unpublished first crime novel.

“I’m very excited. It’s kind of my third kick at the can, (but) the first one for this particular novel,” said Halsband on Monday. “I’ve entered a few times before. So it’s exciting to be on the shortlist.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Juno Awards full of energy

Regina comes alive during Sunday’s event

Singer Serena Ryder fields a question from the media
after the 2013 Juno Awards broadcast in Regina.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

REGINA - It was a high-energy show at the 2013 Juno Awards in Regina on Sunday night.

“Hello Canada. Welcome to the 2013 Juno awards right here in Regina, Saskatchewan,”said host Michael Bublé at the beginning of the broadcast. “Ah Regina, the city that rhymes with fun ... You guys got the Grey Cup coming here. It’s like St. Patrick’s Day except you guys drink way more here.”

During the two-hour show at Brandt Centre, audience members went wild with cheers and applause at many points during the awards broadcast. A total of 7,976 tickets were sold, making Sunday’s broadcast the biggest event ever held at the venue. More than 10 artists and Juno nominees took to the stage to entertain the crowd with memorable performances.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Hall of Fame inductee k.d. lang encourages Canadians to be themselves

k.d. lang speaks to the media about her
induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame
at the 2013 Juno Awards in Regina.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

When k.d. lang was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, she stressed the importance of individualism.

“It is okay to let your freak flags fly,” she said in her speech at Sunday’s Juno Awards in Regina.

 

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Michael Bublé had vision for his Juno hosting script

Juno Awards host Michael Bublé poses in front
of the stage during a press conference on
Saturday at the Brandt Centre in Regina.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

REGINA - Juno Awards host Michael Bublé said he had a specific vision for his script.

“I knew what I wanted so strongly. I knew what I thought was funny and what worked and what I thought great moments were from the very top to ending of the show,”said Bublé on Saturday during a media press conference in Regina. “I want to walk away and for everybody to say they had a blast watching.”

The 37-year-old singer, songwriter and father-to-be hosted the 42^nd annual Juno Awards at the Brandt Centre in Regina on Sunday night. While he was the host, he said the night wasn’t about him.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Ray Francis arranges group photo prior to retirement

Emergency services personnel gather for group photo

The city's emergency services personnel
pose for a group photo at the Lt.-Col.
D.V. Currie VC Armoury on Friday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

Before his retirement after 32 years of service, Ray Francis, paramedic with Moose Jaw & District EMS, wanted to get local emergency services personnel together for a group photo.

“I just wanted to get this done before I left,” said Francis. “EMS is not something I do as a job. It’s a career for me and I love it to death. It is the best career that there is and I will sadly be missing it each and every day that I’m not there.

“I’m very torn between the decision. It’s like leaving your very, very best friends.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: Juno momentum builds, and rightly so

By Lisa Goudy


Momentum has been swelling all week for this weekend’s Juno events.

The Junos seem like the one of the only things people can talk about lately. I did a search on Twitter of #CityMJ the other day and many of the top tweets were regarding the Junos. From the Serena Ryder concert as part of Junofest tonight or the Juno Cup NHL pros versus the Rockers, excitement seems to be building, as rightly it should.

When I expanded my Twitter search to include #Junofest and #GonnaGetLoud, the tweets from all over were filled with hype and excitement for the many activities taking place this weekend in both Moose Jaw and Regina.

I personally am super excited for this weekend as well. There are a lot of great musicians taking the stage and other music-related events leading up to the broadcast on Sunday.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Thunder Creek Pork makes big donation of fresh pork to food banks

Local food bank receives more than 400 kg of pork

Moose Jaw and District Food Bank manager Terri
Smith (right) and assistant manager Deann Little
show off some of the pork meat on Thursday that
the Thunder Creek Pork plant donated recently.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

There's a lot of pork in the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank’s freezer, thanks to the Thunder Creek Pork plant in Moose Jaw.

The pork plant recently donated 2,000 kilograms of fresh pork to Food Banks Saskatchewan. The donation was split between the Moose Jaw, Regina and Saskatoon food banks.

Local food bank manager Terri Smith said the Moose Jaw food bank received 402 kg, or 880 pounds, of pork.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: SaskGaming reports good year for Casino Moose Jaw

According to SaskGaming's 2012 annual report,
Casino Moose Jaw had 779,413 guest visits in 2012.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Casino Moose Jaw (CMJ) had a good year in 2012, according to SaskGaming’s annual report issued Wednesday.

The report stated that in 2012, CMJ had 779,413 guest visits compared to 732,854 guest visits in 2011, an increase of six per cent. The average daily attendance at CMJ was 2,147 in 2012 compared to 2,008 in 2011. Casino Regina had 2.85 million visitors in 2012 compared to 2.81 million in 2011.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Inspiring compassion in Robert Currie's new novel

Local author and poet Robert Currie shows off
his newest book, Living with the Hawk.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Local author and poet Robert Currie said he hopes his new book, Living with the Hawk, will inspire compassion in readers.

“I think reading can really increase a person’s empathy for others — so empathy, in this case, for people who are being mistreated through bullying and racism and misogyny,” said Currie. “I think we learn through our experiences, but we can also experience things quite directly through reading and learn from those as well.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Potholes priority for the city

By Lisa Goudy

Potholes are a primary concern for many citizens of Moose Jaw, according to Mayor Deb Higgins.

“Right now potholes are a priority, but a circumstance such as flooding may cause crews to be moved to look at other areas,” said the mayor, who spoke to the Times-Herald on Wednesday. “It’s pothole season, and I think everyone knew this was coming with the record amounts of snow that we’ve had, and just the way the winter went with thawing and freezing.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Executive hears proposed taxation policy report

Executive committee considers an agenda
item during Monday's meeting at city hall.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

Director of financial services Brian Acker provided the city executive committee with an analysis of the 2013 reassessment changes and the effect on taxation at Monday’s meeting.

“We really do this as an opportunity as much as an education session and discussion session for council,” said Acker. “We’re not going to ask (council) to make any decisions (now).”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Potholes, Natatorium and rugby

Budget committee passes capital budget as amended pending council approval

Coun. Candis Kirkpatrick and Coun. Don Mitchell are
pictured during Monday's budget committee meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy

Moose Jaw's pothole situation is worsening by the day, according to public works manager Duane Grado.

“I’ve never seen them like this,” said Grado during Monday’s budget committee meeting. He added not all of the potholes in the city were filled last year and there has been considerably more snow this winter than there was last year.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Budget committee designates multiplex money for enhancements

Mixed views from councillors on $1.5-million allocation

Mayor Deb Higgins speaks to her motion
regarding the $1.5 million initially allocated to
the multiplex for council's redistribution
during Monday's budget committee meeting.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


It was a close vote to pass a motion regarding the $1.5 million initially designated to the multiplex budget for reallocation.

During Monday’s budget committee meeting, members passed Mayor Deb Higgins’ motion 4-3 to have the money designated for capital project enhancements at Mosaic Place and YaraCentre.

Her motion also called for city administration to consult with the multiplex board and report back to council with recommended enhancements by June 15 of this year. Council will need to finalize the budget committee's decisions.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Executive hears capital cost allocation report for drinking water

City manager Garry McKay presents his report on the 

Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant capital cost

allocation at Monday's executive committee meeting.

Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


If the capital costs of the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant were split based on usage for the past 10 years, the City of Moose Jaw’s contribution would decrease by $2.92 million, according to a report from city manager Garry McKay.

“We have not been using all the water that we have a right to,” said McKay. “The purpose of this report was to provide information.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Evaluating options to warn truckers at Highway 2 overpass

By Lisa Goudy


The provincial highways and infrastructure ministry is evaluating options to warn truckers of the height of the Highway 2 overpass north of Moose Jaw.

“It is one of the lower overpasses we have on the highway system,” said Doug Wakabayashi, assistant director of communications for the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure. “We’re continuing to evaluate potentially some additional things to warn truckers like enhanced signage or electronic warning devices.”

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Scotty the T-rex’s skull on display at Moose Jaw WDM

Moose Jaw Western Development Museum member
of the board of directors and volunteer Don Fox,
Mayor Deb Higgins and Moose Jaw North MLA Warren
Michelson cut the ribbon to officially open the exhibit
of Scotty the T-Rex's skull at the museum on Friday.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

By Lisa Goudy


Approximately 65 million years ago, Scotty the Tyrannosaurus rex roamed the Earth.

Now people have a chance to see the skull that was found near Eastend, Sask., in 1991 at the Moose Jaw Western Development Museum (WDM).

“It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase something very different from what we usually do, but still very important to the history of our province,” said Moose Jaw WDM manager Kathy Fitton after the official launch ceremony of the exhibit on Friday.

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Information on the exhibit on the Moose Jaw WDM website can be found here.