Elk Island Triangle

Vol. 37 No. 6 August 21, 2014 www.elkislandtriangle.com Ph: 780-868-9221 or 780-446-3088

Lamont County 2014 Farm Beautification Winners

PHOTOS BY HEATHER ATKINSON - SUBMITTED SEE MORE PHOTOS & STORY INSIDE

Elk Island Triangle, Thursday, August 21, 2014

The Lamont County Agricultural Service Board

couldn’t have picked a nicer day to hold its annual

Farmstead Beautification Awards. On Monday, Au-

gust 11th, under a sunny sky and with a temperature

nearing 30 degrees; Council members, their spouses,

award recipients and other County representatives

toured Lamont County stopping to visit the yard sites

and make presentations to this year’s award benefi-

ciaries.

A stop at Ukraina Park in Mundare for a Beef-On-

a-Bun lunch and a cold beverage added to a day of

camaraderie making it a day enjoyed by all in attend-

ance.

The Lamont County Agricultural Service Board

acknowledged the following families for the time,

hard work, dedication and pride put into the beautifi-

cation of their yards.

2014 Farmstead Beautification Award Winners

Div. 1 - Clarence & Rhonda Patrie, presented by

Deputy Reeve, Daniel Warawa (L)

Div. 2 - Robert & Charlotte Widynowski, pre-

sented by Reeve Wayne Woldanski (R)

Div. 4 - Edward & Marie Stelmach, pre-

sented by Councillor Roy Anaka

Left: Div. 3 - Albert & Carrie

Holowaychuk, presented by

Councillor Roy Bryks

Below Right: Div. 5

Michael Rosa & Kathy Fedyniak,

presented by Councillor Robert

Malica

PHOTOS BY HEATHER ATKINSON - SUBMITTED


Safety Inspectors Returning to Alberta Gravel Crushing Sites

Borshch Cook-Off Lineup Gets Interesting

Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful, Thom-

as Lukaszuk and MLA Jacquie Fenske are just two of the

home cooks who’ve entered the second annual Babas &

Borshch Ukrainian Festival Borshch Cook Off to be held

on Sunday, August 24th at 1PM at the Andrew Hall.

Also joining the ranks are a grandson of last year’s

first place winner, Helen Zachoda. In addition Matt

Levicki will be defending his second place finish in 2013

against his dad and all other competitors.

On the judge’s panel this year is returning Chef Gail

Hall, Travel Alberta’s Anastasia Martin-Stilwell and

CFCW’s program director, Jackie Rae Greening.

Expect some serious contenders and overall great fun

as we work to make Lamont County Borshch Capital of

Canada, one bowl at a time.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) officers

will once again be inspecting sand and gravel crush-

ing worksites this year in an attempt to determine if

the industry has improved its health and safety rec-

ord.

Last year, in an eight week period, OHS officers

inspected 64 sand and gravel crushing worksites.

During those inspections, officers found the most

common and most concerning violations were relat-

ed to inadequate equipment guards. During the 64

inspections officers issued 15 stop work orders, 8

stop use orders and 217 other orders for a total of 240

orders issued. The 217 other orders issued related to

infractions such as personal protective equipment,

hazard assessment, noise exposure, emergency pre-

paredness and response, etc. Of the 64 work sites

inspected, only 7 worksites required no orders to be

issued.

This year officers will arrive on worksites with an

enforcement tool which was not available to them

last year. Officers can now issue tickets to employers

and employees for specific violations. OHS tickets

are immediate on-the-spot fines of up to $500.00.

Administrative penalties can also be issued to em-

ployers who show a chronic disregard for workplace

health and safety.

It is hoped that by placing an emphasis on sand

and gravel operators an improvement over last

years’ performance will be seen.

OHS officers will also be educating operators

while enforcing the law, where required, in an effort

to ensure worksites are protecting workers.

A few of the violations officers will be looking for

are employers who have failed to address worksite

hazards, employees who do not hold all necessary

certifications, failure to use personal protective

equipment, worksites operating without proper safe-

guards – such as guards on gravel conveyors and

improper operation of equipment.

There have been two fatalities at gravel crushing

operations across Alberta this year. Inspectors will

be visiting sand and gravel worksites across the

province from now through September with random

inspections continuing throughout the year.


Canada’s Homeless Pets …..

There’s something they don’t tell you when you’re

shopping at the pet store. Animal welfare is a big

problem here in Canada. Every year, a staggering

number of animals end up destitute. In 2012 alone,

119,000 cats and 53,000 dogs were surrendered to

shelters.

That’s not even to consider the number of home-

less animals in Canada. Every year, thousands of ani-

mals nationwide are simply abandoned on city

streets. 2008 saw a glut of approximately 25,000 stray

cats living on Windsor streets. Dwarfing the capacity

of the local shelters to house the animals, many were

forced to adopt a policy of euthanization for most of

the animals.

While pet adoption is certainly on the rise, just less

than half of the animals at shelters were adopted in

2012. Even taking into account the number of pets re-

claimed by their owners, there is still unfortunately a

significant deficit of adoption remaining.

Despite the need, shelters are simply unable to ac-

commodate the number of animals discarded by own-

ers. Worse, according to a 2009 Ipsos-Reid survey, cat

owners who owned animals were not spayed or neu-

tered, 21% were not planning to have their animals

fixed in the next 12 months. With an average age of

3.2 years for the animals, approximately 15% of Cana-

da’s 8.2 million cats were at risk of unwanted preg-

nancy.

But for all the statistics and numbers, nothing com-

pares to finding an animal abandoned on your door-

step as my parents found out less than a week ago.

They found her hiding in the grass, starved.

While my mother saw it happening, it was too late

before she realized that someone had simply dropped

off the dog in their yard. The truck sped off into the

distance.

While it’s fair to assume people have a variety of

reasons for abandoning pets, the end result is always

the same. It’s also fair to assume a good number of

people simply underestimate the amount of work that

goes into pet ownership. Or perhaps they underesti-

mate how much energy they are able to expend car-

ing for an animal. And it’s all too easy to ignore the

repercussions if one fails to properly take care of their

pets.

Be it that many owners are complacent or that they

simply underestimate what it takes to raise an animal.

The amount of animals left at shelters should give us

pause to consider if we are truly prepared for that

commitment. And unfortunately, those numbers indi-

cate that many of us are not.

While pet ownership is still a vital part of our cul-

ture, we need to look at our ability to provide and

care for animals as much as our desire to have pets in

our lives. We simply, for the sake of our animals, can-

not allow ourselves to be swayed by the emotional

pull of seeing kittens caged at the pet store.

A pet should be a lifelong commitment. And that

commitment doesn’t end when we take our pets to

the shelter. It simply falls to someone else.

- Aaron

Editor’s Corner


Fred’s Funny Farm

Florence went to Fred’s place of work and asked his boss for a 20% raise in pay, stating that Fred was wanted by 5 other companies.

After much negotiation, Fred got his raise.

When asked by his boss who the 5 companies were, Flo replied, the gas company, telephone company, mortgage company, utility company, and the bank.

Anthony Henday Construction

Manning Freeway 18 Street Opens and Fort Road Intersection Closes

To prepare for the next stage of construction in the

Northeast Anthony Henday Drive project, workers

will open 18 Street to traffic and permanently close

the Fort Road/167 Avenue intersection.

The opening of 18 Street will allow local traffic

easier access to 167 Avenue and businesses in Ed-

monton's Horsehills area.

The closure of the intersection at Fort Road and

167 Avenue will allow crews to continue construc-

tion of the Northeast leg of Anthony Henday Drive

in the Manning Drive area.

August 18:

18 Street will be opened permanently, weather per-

mitting.

August 21:

The intersection at Fort Road and 167 Avenue will be

permanently closed, weather permitting. A detour is

available by using 18 Street, then travelling west on

167 Avenue to Fort Road.

Additional information:

Motorists are reminded to obey all flag persons,

signs and signals.

Fines for speeding double in construction zones.

Signs advising travellers of construction and

speed limits will be posted.

Using Alberta's P3 model for highways allows

Northeast Anthony Henday Drive to be finished in

2016, three years earlier than through conventional

delivery and at a savings of $370 million for taxpay-

ers.

The Alberta government has committed more

than $4 billion toward the construction of the

Edmonton ring road, including the northeast section,

a $1.81 billion investment.

Road Reports:

For up-to-date road information and traffic delays

Call: 511 toll-free

Visit: 511.alberta.ca <http://www.511.alberta.ca/>

Follow: @511Alberta http://twitter.com/511Alberta

http://twitter.com/511Alberta


Leon Benoit, Member of Parlia-

ment for Vegreville-Wainwright,

has joined Agriculture Minister Ger-

ry Ritz and Transportation Minister

Lisa Raitt in announcing the coming

into force of a series of important

regulations, as well as an Order in

Council (OIC), related to the imple-

mentation of Bill C-30, the Fair Rail

for Grain Farmers Act. “This is good news for Vegreville-

Wainwright farmers as we approach the fall and winter

months,” said Benoit. “Now farmers have the assurance

that our rail system will continue to move grain at a meas-

ured and consistent pace.”

The legislation received Royal Assent on May 29th,

2014. As an amendment to the Canada Transporta-

tion Act and the Canada Grain Act, the Fair Rail for Grain

Farmers Act follows what was a record crop year for Cana-

dian farmers and will ensure the quick and efficient

operation of Canada’s rail transportation network.

“Since our March 7th Order in Council, CN and CP Rail

have together moved an average of more than 1 million

tonnes of grain per week,” remarked Benoit. “I’m confi-

dent that this legislation will ensure that we avoid a repeat

of last year’s problems and will prepare us for even bigger

yields in the future.”

The measures within Bill C-30 take effect immedi-

ately and include:

The passing of an OIC, which sets out the mini-

mum grain volumes that Canadian National Rail-

way Company (CN) and Canadian Pacific Rail-

way Company (CP) are each required to move

from August 3rd, 2014 to November 29th, 2014.

Regulations requiring CN and CP to provide ad-

ditional data on grain movement to better monitor

the overall performance of the rail-based supply

chain.

Regulations to clarify the operational terms in a

service level agreement that can be arbitrated by

the Canadian Transportation Agency, to support

commercial negotiations between shippers and

railways. These newly defined rail service obliga-

tions will increase predictability for all shippers.

An amendment to the Railway Interswitching

Regulations extending the limit for rail interswitching

from 30 kilometers to 160 kilometers in the prov-

inces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba for

all commodities to increase competition among

railway companies and give shippers access to

alternative rail services.

Regulations to provide farmers with better protec-

tion through more accountability for grain compa-

nies in contracts.

Benoit noted that the long term goal of the legisla-

tion is for carryover stocks to return to normal levels

by the end of July 2015. “For the immediate future, these

regulations will maximize the amount of grain moved by

rail before the winter season and will allow our Govern-

ment to re-assess the situation faced by farmers later in the

fall.” concluded Benoit.

Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act Now In Force

On July 22, 2014, a 56 year old male resident Alber-

ta reported that he had been a victim of a computer

scam where he received a call from a person identify-

ing himself as a Microsoft employee. The scam artist

then stated that the man's computer was running

slow as it had viruses and he needed to have it fixed

immediately as the computer was at risk. The fraud-

ster requested a payment of $350.00 US dollars to fix

the problem. The man paid the money by credit card

and has since found out that he was scammed.

This "Anti-Virus" or Microsoft Scam is not new,

but the scam artists are very convincing when they

talk about the threat to your computer. It is im-

portant to know that Microsoft does not call comput-

er owners to report virus attacks on computers. Com-

puter owners also need to know that allowing a third

party to download software or to remotely access

your computer carries inherent risks. They can install

malicious software onto your computer and even cap-

ture sensitive information from your computer such

as your on-line banking information and passwords.

To learn more about this and other Scams, visit the

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at:

www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca

Computer Scam Alive and Well


File # 20141017272

On Friday Au-

gust 15th 2014, Hin-

ton RCMP took a

complaint of a

found suitcase that

was recovered on

Highway 16, West

of Edson in the east-

bound lanes.

The suitcase,

found wrapped in black garbage bag material, is de-

scribed as a small rolling unit of black cloth-material

featuring the “Forecast” name brand. Contents in-

cluded boys’ clothing, a child's DVD and a photo of

an unknown woman and a small boy. No contact in-

formation was found in or on the suitcase. A photo is

enclosed in hopes of identifying the owners.

Anyone with information on this or any other investi-

gation is asked to call the Hinton RCMP at 780-865-

2455 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS 1-800-222-

8477

Hinton RCMP Seek Help to Return Suitcase

Found on Eastbound Lanes of Hwy 16

Lamont County Non Compliant With the Municipal Government Act

During the August 12th County Council meeting,

Council found it necessary to deal with a letter re-

ceived from the Assessment Services Branch of Mu-

nicipal Affairs.

The letter, dated June 9th, 2014, indicated the As-

sessment Services Branch completed a province wide

review of municipalities’ compliance with Sections

210 and 284 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA)

and found Lamont County was not in compliance.

MGA Sections 210, 284 and the Qualifications of

Assessor Regulation (AR 233/2005) require municipal-

ities to establish the position of assessor as a designat-

ed officer and appoint a qualified person to the posi-

tion.

MGA Section 210 deals with Designated Officers

while MGA Section 284 deals with Assessment of

Property.

Lamont County Bylaw 656/05, as written, effective-

ly established the position of assessor as a designated

officer for Lamont County and provided for the ap-

pointment of a qualified individual and appeared to

satisfy the requirements of MGA Section 210 until a

motion was made at the February 11th, 2014 Council

meeting.

The February 11th, 2014, Motion Number 14-056,

made by Councillor Malica, stated: That Lamont

County Council appoint Accurate Assessment to provide

Assessment Services for Lamont County for a 4 year term

beginning March 1, 2014. CARRIED

It appears the motion, as worded, was a motion to

sign a contract instead of a motion to appoint an indi-

vidual to the position of assessor and as a result La-

mont County failed to meet proper requirements.

The letter pointed out that since the County’s as-

sessment services are provided by a private firm, the

County’s motion must appoint, as assessor, the indi-

vidual that handles the majority of the County’s as-

sessment duties. In order to comply, the county was

asked to pass a motion appointing an individual to

the position. In addition, the County was asked to

appoint an individual who meets the Qualifications of

Assessor Regulation and forward a copy of the new

motion to Municipal Affairs.

After some discussion, Council followed CAO

Harvey’s recommendation that County Council ap-

point Ray Fortin, AMAA, of Accurate Assessment

Group Ltd. as the assessor for Lamont County.

Next Publication Date - September 4th Deadline for all Submissions – 5 p.m. - August 29th

We welcome your Letters to the Editor All letters must be signed

All letters must contain a phone number in case we need clarification

tel:%28780%29%20865-2455

tel:%28780%29%20865-2455


Any Alberta farmer old enough could tell you stories

of how dirty it was to heat their home with coal, how diffi-

cult it was to chop wood and what a relief it was when nat-

ural gas arrived at their door. Heating at the flick of a

switch made lives of rural Albertans better and changed

the fortunes of their communities – all thanks to the pio-

neers that built Alberta’s natural gas co-operatives and

now celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Al-

berta Gas Co-ops Ltd.

Today, almost anywhere you go in rural Alberta, natural

gas heating is a basic utility just like water and power. This

is not the case elsewhere in Canada, where rural homes

often use heating oil, propane or some other fuel. Fifty

years ago, Alberta’s farming communities had enough with

pipeline companies bypassing them for more lucrative

sales outside the province and decided that if the compa-

nies wouldn’t share the natural gas with rural Albertans,

they were just going to do it for themselves!

In the early 1960’s, Alberta farmers began working to-

gether to build their own natural gas utilities as co-

operatives – a gas utility owned by the people it served and

the mindset of ensuring your neighbor benefitted from the

utility just as much as you did. These first gas co-ops had

their work cut out for them, but with co-operative spirit

teams of volunteers dug gas line trenches, glued reels of

pipe together and trudged across the countryside signing

up new members – sometimes welcomed wholeheartedly,

sometimes chased off the land!

The spirit of cooperation took them to a new level when,

in July6, 1964, several co-ops banded together to incorpo-

rate the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd. With the

new organization behind them, they were able to expand

their message and build interest across Alberta. By 1973,

the Government of Alberta came on board with the Rural

Gas Program – dedicated to expanding the availability of

natural gas to all areas of the province. Within just a few

years, tens of thousands of kilometers of natural gas distri-

bution pipelines were ploughed to rural homes.

Albertans have helped turn the Federation of Alberta

Gas Co-ops Ltd. into the world’s largest rural gas distribu-

tion system with over 120,000 rural homes and businesses

counted as members of one of its 82 gas co-ops, municipal,

and First Nation utilities. It is an Alberta success story

with no equal anywhere. The availability of convenient

and affordable natural gas has helped keep Alberta’s rural

communities alive and thriving. Some gas co-ops have

even branched out by offering high speed internet to un-

served and underserved areas of the province through Cor-

ridor Communications Inc.

The 50th anniversary of the Federation of Alberta Gas Co

-ops Ltd. is a moment of pride for all Albertans. By work-

ing together, Albertans accomplished a rural natural gas

distribution system unlike anything found elsewhere in the

world, and have ensured every Albertan shares in the con-

venience of the natural gas found under their own feet.

50 Years of Alberta’s Natural Gas Co-ops!


Approximately 30 local producers, including Reeve Wol-

danski, Councillors Warawa, Bryks and Malica, County Ag.

Fieldman, Terry Eleniak and County Bylaw Officer, Steve

Crosby attended a meeting with MLA Jacquie Fenske on Fri-

day, August 15th at the St. Michael Senior Drop In Center.

The meeting was an urgent result of calls received by

Council and Ag Service staff from producers concerned

about the Highway 29 weight restriction and their inability to

receive haul permits from Alberta Transportation.

MLA Fenske wasted no time in starting the meeting by

pointing out producers from Camrose and other surround-

ing municipalities were also experiencing concerns with

Highway 29. She explained that due to the need of a final

overlay of asphalt, Alberta Transportation imposed a 75%

weight restriction on Highway 29 about a year ago. She also

indicated she recently learnt an engineering firm has been

retained to investigate the condition of the highways’ base

east of St. Michael. She stressed nothing happens quickly in

government, but assured all in

attendance she was aware har-

vest is fast approaching and

would do all she can to address

the weight restriction issue.

Producers were clearly frus-

trated with Alberta Transporta-

tion and the requirements

needed to obtain a haul permit.

Examples such as the expecta-

tion of specifically knowing

how many truckloads of grain

would be hauled off any given

field, times and dates loads

would be on the highway, and

how long hauls were expected

to last were just a few of the

most frustrating questions be-

ing asked by Alberta Transpor-

tation. One producer, faced

with a 3 tonne restriction on a

county bridge in one direction,

a 10 tonne restriction on a

bridge in another and the un-

certainty of obtaining a haul permit on Highway 29, was left

wondering how his grain will get to its destinations. Con-

cerns raised clearly indicated producers are facing a major

problem hauling their crops this fall.

Additionally, the Highway 29 weight restriction makes it

necessary for area producers to utilize the nearest rural side

roads which in turn puts added stress on County infrastruc-

ture resulting in added costs to all County ratepayers. At-

tendees felt the Alberta Transportation weight restriction

threw producers and County infrastructure into a catch-22.

In closing MLA Fenske indicated she would do what she

can to organize a conference call or meeting with County

Council, Ag Services, Alberta Transportation and herself as

soon as possible.

In the meantime, however, she is asking all producers af-

fected by the weight restriction to forward an email outlining

their concerns to: [email protected] and Cc

her at: [email protected]

Highway 29 Weight Restriction A Growing Concern as Harvest Approaches


Fred walks into a lingerie store to purchase a sheer negli-gee for his wife. He is shown several possibilities that range from $250 to $500 in price -- the sheerer the negligee, the higher the price. Naturally, he opts for the sheerest item, pays the $500, and takes it home. He presents it to Florence and asks her to go upstairs, put it on, and model it for him.

Being no dummy, upstairs Flo thinks, “I have an idea. It's so sheer that it might as well be nothing. I won't put it on, but I'll do the modelling naked, return it tomorrow, and keep the $500 refund for myself.”

She appears naked on the balcony and strikes a pose.

Fred says, “Good Grief! You'd think for $500 they'd at least iron it!”

Funeral on Thursday at Noon

And that’s another almost trew story as told for Uncle Fred

“Almost Trew Stories”

as told for Uncle Fred

Latate Bike (Patching) (Tales)


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Multi-Part Work Order Forms

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Friday, August 22 Ukrainian Internment Com-memoration, 11 a.m. To mark the 100th anniversary of Can-ada’s first national internment operations of 1914-1920 and in honor of those Ukrainians where were held in Canadian internment camps during the first world war Lest We For-get, Organizer: Basilian Fa-thers Museum Friday, August 22 - Sun-day, August 24 Bruderheim Heartland Ag Days Saturday, August 23 Andrew Ag Society presents Andrew Farmers Market & Beer Gardens and Ball Hock-ey for the kids Saturday, August 23 - Sunday, August 24 2nd Annual Babas & Borshch Ukrainian Festival, Village of Andrew Sunday, August 24 Friends Ukrainian Music Fest, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village Wednesday, August 27 Bruderheim Preschool (ages 3 & 4) registration will be Wednesday, August 27th, 2014 at the school, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the pre-school room Monday, September 1 RCMP Musical Ride – 1:00 p.m. at the Bruderheim Ag Grounds, Tickets still availa-ble at the Town Office, Mix 107.9 FM Radio in Ft. Sask, and at the gate. Monday, September 1 “What’s Up In Bruderheim” – 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. in Downtown Bruderheim Sunday, September 7 Harvest of the Past & Harvest Food Festival - Ukrainian Cul-tural Heritage Village 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 9 Lamont County Council Meet-ing – 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Public Welcome

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