The federal government is providing $3.7 million in funds to help rural communities in Alberta address homelessness. The funds, provided through the government’s Reaching Home program, were awarded to 11 rural communities in Alberta. Each community will use the money to best fit the needs of their citizens, Dee Ann Benard, executive director of the […] Read more
Farm Living
No end in sight found for farm labour shortage
There could be 10,000 job vacancies on Canadian grain farms by 2029. This morning, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council released a new report on labour challenges in agriculture, looking specifically at the grain and oilseed sector. In 2017, Canada’s grain and oilseed farmers employed 38,750 workers, but 2,000 jobs were unfilled, CAHRC said. In […] Read more
Fundraiser planned for Sask. producer
Saskatchewan ranchers are fundraising to help one of their own. Well-known cow-calf producer Miles Anderson of Fir Mountain was in a car accident south of Moose Jaw Jan. 30 and remains in Saskatoon hospital with significant leg injuries. Anderson is a past president of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, and he and his wife Sheri […] Read more
Birds and bees alive in care homes
Ageism gets some of the blame for the discomfort many feel when confronted with sexual expression in seniors’ facilities
Sex and sexuality among seniors in continuing care homes is not easily or commonly discussed. For many, such talk likely ranks below root canal and a naked polar plunge in terms of enjoyable things to do. Yet sexual well-being is part of aging well, and addressing it in the context of seniors’ residency in lodges […] Read more
Human rights museum is a top attraction in Manitoba
If the Canadian Museum for Human Rights looks familiar, it may be because the unusual-looking building appears on our $10 bill. The distinctive architecture is not the only unusual feature. Unlike other museums that primarily display artifacts, this one is more about ideas. It’s the first of its kind in the world dedicated to human […] Read more
Make them feel special with dessert this Valentine’s Day
Today there is nothing more special than a home-baked cake. Yes, a cake. Not muffins, cookies, a pie, a loaf or brownies. A simple cake. It seems to be a lost art. It has been a long time since I have made a cake, too. A few reminders will bring wonderful results. Follow the recipe. […] Read more
When Valentine’s Day lived up to its name
Whether it was a special card delivery in elementary school or a crokinole game in high school, this day never failed to disappoint
Valentine’s Day fell at a time of year when we were coping with the rigours of a prairie winter, when emotions were all but smothered by the very real effort it took to keep functioning. Between the doldrums of January and the reality of spring, when snow banks became grey and life was tedious at […] Read more
Social anxiety may be root cause of letter writer’s job worries
Mostly we do grain hauls to various terminals. The other day I made a mistake. I sent one of our trucks to a farm a couple of kilometres out of the way. The mistake was corrected easily, at no cost to either the driver or to our company, but my manager still finds it necessary […] Read more
Rooster’s bad temperament could put it in harm’s way
When I was a kid, it wasn’t a cowboy who wore the spurs around our farm. That honour went to a big, white rooster. That bird earned my respect — or at least my fear. When he ruffled his neck feathers and flashed his amber eye, smart people like me headed for the nearest door. […] Read more
Work in the boardroom contributes to the farm
On the Farm: Sask. grain producer switches gears as he moves from canola politics to the wheat side of the industry
Nokomis, Sask. – Saskatchewan farmer Brett Halstead entered 2020 with a new position and a new focus. After representing the interests of prairie canola growers for nearly a decade, Halstead recently assumed duties as chair of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SaskWheat). Over the years, Halstead has spent plenty of time representing grower interests at […] Read more
