Diane Rogers

Retirement at age 65 is not uncommon for people. But for organizations, it can be a sad day. On July 5, members of the 65-year-old Canadian Home Economics Association voted to dissolve the national group. Falling membership and income led to the decision taken at a meeting of the group in Regina. In the most […] Read more

Dr. David Miller’s first hours in Canada were intimidating. He landed in Montreal from Ireland with his new bride, intent on spending three months working at a temporary job before returning home. The Millers arrived during the October crisis 33 years ago when Quebec separatists kidnapped two political figures. As police and the army moved […] Read more

Although Canada’s outstanding young farm family of 2003 will not be selected until December, the nomination process started months ago. Two of the western regions have now pared their lists to one name. Saskatchewan named Lionel and Melody Ector, special crop growers and buyers from Elbow, as its winner. Manitoba’s entry will be Lyndon and […] Read more

Having influence with the government and other organizations has been one of the major accomplishments for the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada, says its president, Faye Mayberry. The Red Deer woman is stepping down after a three-year term and will be replaced during the group’s triennial conference in Lennoxville, Que., June 24-29. On a national […] Read more

Hockey is probably the reason girls make up almost two-thirds of Canada’s 4-H membership. “Lots of boys are involved in hockey,” said Mary-Ann Carson, the newly elected president of the Canadian 4-H Council. Boys don’t have time to put into the monthly 4-H meetings and project work, said the Maidstone, Sask., farmer. The statistics for […] Read more

BRUNO, Sask. – The Saskatchewan Women’s Institute closed its office at the University of Saskatchewan on May 30 and laid off its part-time secretary. However, the group vows to carry on, with members volunteering to work on SWI tasks from their homes. President Virginia Kreklevich joked at the SWI annual meeting May 31 that the […] Read more

With a whirring roar from its rotary propellers, a helicopter in Alberta’s STARS program settles onto a farm field, beside a highway or near an oil well site to pick up an injured person for transport to a city hospital. It happened 1,115 times in 2002 as the rescue service flew out of its two […] Read more

Rural local governments may be ready to hear a message they loudly rejected three years ago. Their need to merge to work in larger, more efficient groupings will be essential for rural survival, says an American banker. Mark Drabenstott told a Saskatoon meeting organized by the city’s chamber of commerce and Saskatchewan Agrivision Corp. that […] Read more

They got a trip to Ottawa, a pin, a handshake from Jean Chrétien and $5,000. Three women from a pioneering rural Manitoba day care received the prime minister’s award of excellence May 14. The 10-year-old award has recognized Canada’s best teachers, but this was the first year that early childhood educators, or ECEs, were nominated. […] Read more

LANDIS, Sask. – Sharon and Bob Clay’s retirement project has turned into full-time work. The couple quit grain farming a couple of years ago, leaving it to their daughter and son-in-law. In anticipation of slowing down, they bought buffalo in 1995, and now have 100 animals, with calves coming this spring on their land near […] Read more