LA MALBAIE, Que. — It started with a “crazy idea” to make cheese and grew into an economic success story for the rural Charlevoix region of eastern Quebec. Dominic Tremblay, a volunteer and chair with the Charlevoix SADC (Societe d’aide au developpement de la collectivite), said the region attracts tourists from well beyond its borders […] Read more
Stories by Karen Morrison
Internship program helps rural regions
LA MALBAIE, Que. — An internship program subsidizing newly minted post-secondary graduates in the workplace can provide valuable job experience while also providing much needed labour in rural regions. “It helps provide a reasonable salary versus an entry level one,” said Ryan Reynard, executive director of Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation in Kenora, […] Read more
When retirement means starting a business
Couple opens work wear/leisure store to serve a farming community near the oil patch and cottages
TURTLEFORD, Sask. — Cam and Joann Nutbrown weren’t yet ready to retire to a hammock all day when they moved to Turtle Lake. Instead, the parents of three adult children launched Bears Britches, a store in Turtleford offering men’s clothing, work wear and accessories. “My wife said you can’t even buy a pair of socks […] Read more
Rural business hub gets makeover
SPIRITWOOD, Sask. — Spiritwood mayor and pharmacist Gary von Holwede prides himself on hearing there is no place to park on Main Street. “Those are encouraging words,” said von Holwede, who owns the Spiritwood Good Health Pharmacy along the business hub with his pharmacist wife, Heather. “That’s when I believe we are doing something right,” […] Read more
Budget conscious couple takes on century farm
Grain farmers look for deals on equipment but keep up with agricultural innovations like auto steer and GPS
UNITY, Sask. — Two animated Springer Spaniels are so eager to greet the car entering the farmyard that they block access to the parking area. Inside the house, a bevy of exotic Sphynx cats, devoid of hair, are equally attentive and affectionate to the two generations of family gathered around a kitchen table to talk […] Read morePatient seeks change after Lyme disease test
After a series of misdiagnoses, blood tested in California confirmed her illness was due to a tick
The circuitous route to a Lyme disease diagnosis has led one Saskatchewan woman to advocate change to what she calls flawed testing. Danah Hysuick of Indian Head went from feeling unwell in December 2012 to being unable to work because of seizures, weakness, pain and twitches in her limbs to finally receiving a diagnosis through […] Read more
Sask. beef club wins contest by improving ear tag retention
The tags piggyback on rumen magnet, providing a two-for-one benefit
The Abbey-Lancer 4-H Beef Club of Pennant, Sask., has invented a less labour intensive way to keep cattle identification records. For their efforts, members were named the winners of the first ever 4-H Canada science and technology contest. Pam Heller, the club’s general leader, said the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency information normally found on ear […] Read moreHealth coverage in question with provincial move
Provincial coverage expires three months after move, leaving a gap in insurance
A gap in basic health coverage led to some anxious months for an academic starting a new career in Sask-atchewan. Daphne Taras, dean of the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan, said Saskatchewan Health denied her a health card twice after she moved from Alberta in 2010. She applied as an individual […] Read moreLifting barriers main goal of CAHRC survey
A three-year project will survey women in agriculture and seek ways to overcome barriers. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council will lead the Supporting the Advancement of Women in Agriculture project, which is expected to be completed by December 2017. Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, the council’s executive director, said the first step is to gather information to […] Read more
Teachers a key source of support
Teachers can play an important support role for students battling substance abuse simply by listening to them. Allan Kehler, speaking at the National Congress on Rural Education in Saskatoon last week, suggested starting the conversation with, “I don’t mean to pry, but I just wanted to let you know I am concerned.” “The most important […] Read more
