Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: A heartfelt goodbye to Moose Jaw

By Lisa Goudy

Saying goodbye is a part of life.

Now it’s my turn. As of Monday, I will no longer work for the Moose Jaw Times-Herald, as I have accepted another position elsewhere. After more than five years in such a vibrant community, where I have met so many amazing people and had the opportunity to tell your stories and connect with so many of you, it has come time for me to move on.

Half a decade ago I embarked on a journey and moved to Moose Jaw to start work as a reporter/photographer at the Moose Jaw Times-Herald.

Fresh out of journalism school, I hit the ground running, even being assigned a massive house fire in progress just outside the city on my sixth day on the job.

That was just the first of many, many stories I’ve covered in my time here that has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people, from the hard news to the soft news, the good and the bad. 

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Learning the write way

Award-winning author Alice Kuipers to be one of the presenters at the Festival of Words

Photo courtesy Matt Braden

Me (and) Me is author Alice Kuipers’ latest book.

Kuipers will be a presenter at the 2017 Saskatchewan

Festival of Words as well as the Sage Hill Teen Writing Experience.

By Lisa Goudy

Author Alice Kuipers had to learn the hard way how to deal with rejection. 

In fact, she has accumulated many rejection letters over the years.

“If I could talk to my teen self and say, ‘You know what? This is actually going to be something you’re doing. You’re going to be able to make your living as a writer,’ I would give myself a little hint: It’s hard work in terms of there’s a lot of rejection,” she said.

A decade after starting to write seriously, she had her first book published in 2007 with her young adult (YA) novel, Life on the Refrigerator Door. Since then, the award-winning author has published four other YA novels, two picture books and she has a chapter book set for release next year.

Read more 

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Classic rock band to reunite in Moose Jaw

1970s band Headline to celebrate 40^th anniversary with show at Chillers this summer

Photo courtesy Klaus Bohn

Headline stands in front of Moose Jaw’s Capitol Theatre

in July 1978. (From left): Dave Sergent, Nelson Bennett,

Dan O’Connell, Sandy Lawson and Graham Young.

By Lisa Goudy

In 1977 in Moose Jaw, Graham Young and a group of friends officially started a classic rock band, Headline, and embarked on a Canadian tour.

Forty years later, the band, complete with all original members, will be playing a reunion concert at Chillers Brew Pub on Aug. 19. 

“We were really the first ever classic rock band in Moose Jaw,” said Young.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: RuBarb settling into a new home

The charitable organization is making the most out of the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre

Photo courtesy Evie Koop Sawatzky

The cast of RuBarb Productions’ Shrek the

Musical pose by the mission statement of

the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre.

By Lisa Goudy

Once empty spaces in the basement of the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre are now brimming with activity.

Some of the rooms, even when the centre was still the Capitol Theatre, were never even finished. While many of those rooms still need more work, RuBarb Productions staff and students are already feeling like they’re in a new home.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Fun for the family

Royal Canadian Family Circus to make Moose Jaw stop Wednesday night

Jason Kerr/Prince Albert Daily Herald

The Royal Canadian Family Circus features a variety

of acts. The circus will be in Moose Jaw on July 5, 2017.

By Lisa Goudy

The circus is coming to town.

On Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place, the Royal Canadian Family Circus will stop at Mosaic Place during its Spectac! 2017 tour.

“We’ve basically got something for the whole family and it’s a beautiful show. It’s a thrill show,” said Cathy Sproule, the circus’ tour director. “What’s exciting is seeing all of these families and you’re seeing the grandparents bring their grandchildren.”

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: A month of learning

Central Collegiate student one of 801 Canadians accepted into month-long STEAM program

Crystal Schick/Times-Herald

Central Collegiate student, Obi Aghamelu, is one of

801 Canadians accepted into month-long STEAM program.

By Lisa Goudy

Obi Aghamelu wants to be a doctor one day.

He just doesn’t yet know what kind of doctor he wants to be. That’s something he hopes his experience this summer is going to change.

Aghamelu, who just finished Grade 11 at Central Collegiate, is one of 801 students in Canada accepted into SHAD program, an award-winning Canadian enrichment program to give students hands-on experience focused around STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: RCMP seeking help with string of robberies in south Sask.

Photo courtesy RCMP

The suspect at the bank robbery in Holdfast on March 10, 2017.

By Lisa Goudy

Saskatchewan RCMP is seeking help identifying an individual believed to be responsible for a string of robberies and attempted robberies at financial institutions in southern Saskatchewan.

Since May 2016, there have been eight incidents and in all cases, no one was physically injured. RCMP investigators have noticed similarities in these situations. 

“Safety is always our number one priority,” read a statement from the RCMP. 

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: James Barker Band ready to play a small town

Band participating in One Horse Town contest; voting closes July 9

Submitted photo

The James Barker Band is one of the acts set to

play in the town that wins the One Horse Town

contest, for which Moose Jaw is one of six finalists.

By Lisa Goudy

Having grown up on a farm in a small town, country music was always in James Barker’s blood.

Now he and his band, the James Barker Band, will be one of the acts playing along with Darius Rucker, Jon Pardi and Saskatchewan’s Jess Moskaluke in the city that wins the One Horse Town contest in which Moose Jaw is a finalist.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Cancer rates on the rise

New report shows 5,600 Sask. residents to be diagnosed this year 

Submitted photo

Dr. Mark Brown purchases a ticket for the

cancer care raffle on June 28, 2017.

By Lisa Goudy

A new Canadian Cancer Society report shows that nearly one in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

The average number of cancer cases from 2028 to 2032 is projected to be 79 per cent higher than it was from 2003-2007.

In Saskatchewan, the report estimates 5,600 people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2017, with 2,400 people dying of the disease this year.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Delving into the history of women’s rights

Sisters United: Women’s Suffrage in Saskatchewan travelling exhibit opens at WDM

Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

Kathy Fitton, manager of the Western Development

Museum in Moose Jaw, stands with a portion of the

travelling exhibit, Sisters United: Women’s Suffrage

in Saskatchewan, on display until Oct. 15.

By Lisa Goudy

As Kathy Fitton stood in the Sisters United exhibit at the Western Development Museum (WDM), she noted how lucky she is to be able to vote.

“I can’t imagine not being allowed to vote. I can’t even comprehend that truly, but that’s because I’m very fortunate to live where I live and live here at the time I live here,” said Fitton, manager of the WDM in Moose Jaw. “I think it’s important that we honour these women who set that groundwork and did all that hard work to ensure I can vote today.”

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Muslims mark the end of Ramadan

Photo courtesy Islamic Association of Moose Jaw

Eid was marked in Moose Jaw on June 25, 2017.

By Lisa Goudy

Around 100 people came out to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, in Moose Jaw on Sunday.

“We want to extend our greetings and best wishes to all of the community here, especially the Muslim community, for the end of Ramadan celebration,” Nazmia Bengeleil with the Islamic Association of Moose Jaw told the Times-Herald. “It was nice for the community to all get together. We just wanted to wish everybody a happy celebration and happy Eid.”

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Making $12,678 for cystic fibrosis from lemonade

Cassidy’s Lemonade Stand has another successful year in Moose Jaw

Crystal Schick/Times-Herald

Cassidy Evans, 9, sells lemonade to the after

school rush in Moose Jaw on June 23, 2017.

By Lisa Goudy

Nine-year-old Cassidy Evans’ lemonade stand is not your average summer endeavour.

Last weekend, it brought in a record amount of money to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis.

The stand at her home on Simpson Avenue raised $12,678 and donations are still coming in. 

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: King George students perform random acts of kindness

Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

Grade 7 and 8 students at King George Elementary

School stopped by the Times-Herald office as part

 of their random acts of kindness on June 23, 2017.

By Lisa Goudy

Several strangers’ days were made a bit brighter thanks to the work of Grade 7 and 8 students from King George Elementary School on Friday.

“Basically we’ve been doing random acts of kindness today,” said Grade 7 student Tommy Garrity.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: The return of catalogue shopping

By Lisa Goudy

I am reminded today of something my grandparents recently told me.

I was over at their place for dinner with the family and my grandparents noted that we as a society are going back to catalogue shopping, except using the Internet, and that it was a shame.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized they were right. Catalogue shopping was a big thing years ago. 

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Selling lemonade for a cause

Crystal Schick/Times-Herald

Cassidy Evans, 9, poses with a cup of lemonade during a break

in the after school rush in Moose Jaw on June 23, 2017.

By Lisa Goudy

Nine-year-old Cassidy Evans has a secret recipe for her lemonade.

Every year for the last five years, she has been selling that lemonade, as well as some snacks, for a cause close to her heart.

All of the proceeds from the lemonade stand go toward finding a cure for cystic fibrosis by supporting Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

 
Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: ‘A tale of two brain injuries’

Submitted photo

Hailey Harms is a brain injury survivor from Shellbrook,

Sask. who is one of the faces of the Saskatchewan Brain

Injury Association’s brain injury awareness month campaign.

By Lisa Goudy

Hailey Harms of Shellbrook, Sask. dreamed of becoming a professional figure skater since she was five years old.

A champion figure skater competing for the Saskatchewan High Performance Figure Skating Team working to become part of the Canadian national team, Harms lived and trained all over the country. At 16, she moved to British Columbia to join the Vancouver International Ice Dance Academy.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Doctor calls on gov’t to reverse podiatry services cut

Crystal Schick/Times-Herald

Dr. Ata Stationwala poses for a photo in his

office at Providence Place in Moose Jaw.

By Lisa Goudy

Moose Jaw’s only podiatrist believes the provincial government’s decision to cut funding to podiatry services effective July 1 will result in patients losing limbs.

“There’s no question that the community here needs the service. From a business standpoint, I’m going to have no issues maintaining the clinic,” said Dr. Ata Stationwala.

“My concern is it’s going to be a clinic that’s now going to be for the elite, those who can afford the services. A lot of times the people who need the services the most are the people that don’t have the fiscal means to come after the service. So it’s a challenge for sure. I am very much concerned about some of my patients who are going to end up losing legs because of these changes.”

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Sunningdale supports local shelter

Grade 3 class takes on social change project to collect donations to the humane society

Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

Van Nagel, Grade 3 student at Sunningdale

Elementary School, and Tayler Gardner, Grade 3

teacher at Sunningdale, pose by the class’ donation to

the Moose Jaw Humane Society on June 20, 2017.

By Lisa Goudy

Following a suggestion from one of her students, Tayler Gardner’s Grade 3 class banded together to help the humane society.

“We’re learning a lot at Sunningdale about character education, so respect and empathy and I thought this would be one of the best ways for them to see firsthand about helping people,” said Gardner, a teacher at Sunningdale Elementary School. “It’s so they know they need other people and other people need them. It’s just important to have those relationships and those connections.” 

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Preparing for a final farewell

Saskatchewan Express to mark Canada’s 150^th birthday with new show set for Moose Jaw this Saturday

Submitted photo

The Saskatchewan Express summer cast is bringing

their new Oh! Canada show to Moose Jaw on June 24,

2017 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mae Wilson Theatre

at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre.

By Lisa Goudy

As the Saskatchewan Express prepares for its Canada 150 show, Moose Jaw’s Miranda Rose Sheepwash is preparing to say goodbye.

“There’s a lot of nostalgia, I guess, with this show and a lot of last times we’ll be doing things,” said Sheepwash, 21. “So it’s all kind of bittersweet and it’s really nice to be able to be part of the very last cast with Carol (Gay Bell).”

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Moose Jaw Sears store to close

Moose Jaw location one of four in Sask. to shutter doors

Crystal Schick/Times-Herald

The anchor store at the Town ‘n’ Country Mall will be

closing up shop, putting more than 50 people out of work.

By Lisa Goudy

Moose Jaw’s 53 employees at Sears will soon be out of work.

Sears Canada announced Thursday that it is closing 59 locations across Canada, including Moose Jaw’s at the Town ‘n’ Country Mall. The flagship retailer expects to lay off 2,900 workers across Canada as well, both in the retail network and at its corporate head office in Toronto. The Moose Jaw store employs 15 full-time and 38 part-time employees.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Bring in summer in Gravelbourg

Town to host 17^th annual solstice festival Friday and Saturday

Submitted photo

Attendees at a previous instalment of the

Summer Solstice Festival d’été in Gravelbourg.

By Lisa Goudy

There’s going to be a party this weekend in Gravelbourg.

The 17^th annual volunteer-run Summer Solstice Festival d’été will take place in downtown Gravelbourg.

“My favourite part about the solstice is the evening entertainment to be outside and listening to the music in an outdoor festival,” said Sheryn Bakke, volunteer organizer.

 
Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Getting to the root of disease

VIDO researcher talks about current diseases and research in livestock during recent Moose Jaw stop

Crystal Schick/Times-Herald

Dr. Volker Gerdts, associate director of research at

the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization

(VIDO), talks about his research at the Saskatchewan

Stock Growers Association (SSGA)’s 104^th

annual convention in Moose Jaw.

By Lisa Goudy

Viruses mutate all the time and just as they can affect humans, they can affect livestock as well.

This makes the research and development being done at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)’s international vaccine centre at the University of Saskatchewan so important. Researchers there focus on diseases affecting the livestock industries that are also important to human health.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Mayor expresses pride over Special Olympics

By Lisa Goudy

Mayor Fraser Tolmie couldn’t wipe a smile off his face when looking back on how the Special Olympics came together in Moose Jaw last weekend.

“I’m proud of our community,” said Tolmie, chair of the Moose Jaw Special Olympics board. “I’m proud of the character of the City of Moose Jaw that they are willing to roll their sleeves up, get involved and they were willing to embrace people from across this province that deal with intellectual disabilities.”

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Reflecting on Sask. Stock Growers Association’s 104th convention

Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

Producers visit at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers

Association (SSGA)’s 104^th annual convention in Moose Jaw.

By Lisa Goudy

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) returned to its roots this year with the 104^th annual convention held in the same location as the first convention 104 years ago – Moose Jaw.

Over a period of three days, members, producers and others involved in the industry gathered at Mosaic Place to hear a number of speakers and have their 2017 annual general meeting.

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Parking, transit fees changing July 1

Mayor says biggest reason is to encourage more people to ride the bus

Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

A bus pulls up on Main Street.

By Lisa Goudy

Effective July 1, parking meter rates are going up and transit rates are going down.

“The changes are taking place to encourage people to take public transit,” said Mayor Fraser Tolmie. “I will actually be doing it myself. We’re a one-car family and I’ve checked out the bus schedules and I’m going to be trying to take public transit myself on days that I have very few meetings that are out of the office.”

Tolmie used to ride the bus when living in the United Kingdom and his father was a bus driver in Hamilton, Ont. 

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: NDP elects first female leader

Submitted photo

Nicole Sarauer is the Saskatchewan NDP’s new

interim leader and the first woman to lead the party.

By Lisa Goudy

The Saskatchewan NDP has a new interim leader and for the first time, that leader is a woman.

Nicole Sarauer, MLA for Regina Douglas Park, was elected interim leader of the party Tuesday night, effective immediately.

“I’m honoured to have been chosen by caucus and council to lead the party. It’s important work and it’s exciting work,” she said on Wednesday. “I think I’m one in a line of hopefully many other women who will follow in my footsteps, I suppose. If one young woman sees this and sees me in this space and in this role and sees it then as a potential career opportunity for her, I think that’s a very good thing.”

Read more

Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Jumpstarting kids into sports

Canadian Tire donates $4,500 to 15 Wing Moose Jaw and hosts Jumpstart Games for students

Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

Gord Miller, TSN sportscaster, huddles with a group

of students from Palliser Heights School during a

flag football activity during Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart

Games at 15 Wing Moose Jaw on June 19, 2017.

By Lisa Goudy

You’re never too young to get active.

That was the message on Monday as 235 local students from Ecole St. Margaret, Sacred Heart and Palliser Heights schools participated in Jumpstart Games at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. Jumpstart is a national charity helping kids ages four to 18 from families in need to participate in physical activities. Students were joined by Gord Miller, TSN sportscaster, Brayden Schennn, Saskatoon-born NHL centre with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Meaghan Mikkelson, two-time Olympic hockey gold medalist.

“Lives are so busy now. People are so busy and it’s so easy to not be active, but the message of how great it is to be active needs to get out,” said Miller.

Read more