1 bonnieapr2021

Reflections

By Bonnie Hutchinson
 
These signs of the times
made me laugh
 
Everything is relative. I used to think any temperature more than 28 Celsius was uncomfortably hot. Two weeks ago, when we hit 38 Celsius–the highest temperature I’ve ever experienced in more than seven decades–my perspective changed.
“Oh, it’s only 30°C. Moderate.” Our July heat wave, followed by a week of more moderate temperatures, has left me with a severe case of ACS. That’s Absence of Creativity Syndrome–an under-researched condition especially prevalent in the summer. My summertime brain wants to be off-duty. I went through the motions of trying to fend off ACS but then capitulated. “It’s summer,” I thought and had a nap.
And so–this week’s column is completely unoriginal. I’m just going to quote some things that made me laugh lately, with thanks to people who sent them to me.
First, some terrible puns: I have a few jokes about unemployed people, but none of them work.
Will glass coffins be a success? Remains to be seen.
What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is really heavy and the other is a little lighter.
Two windmills are standing in a wind farm. One asks, “What’s your favourite kind of music?” The other says, “I’m a big metal fan.”
Hear about the new restaurant called Karma? There’s no menu—you get what you deserve.
I went to buy some camouflage trousers yesterday, but couldn’t find any.
What do you call a bee that can’t make up its mind? A maybe.
I tried to sue the airline for losing my luggage. I lost my case.
When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
A cross-eyed teacher couldn’t control his pupils.
She had a photographic memory, but never developed it.
Is it ignorance or apathy that’s destroying the world today? I don’t know and I don’t care.
I wasn’t originally going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind.
Which country’s capital has the fastest-growing population? Ireland. Every day it’s Dublin.
The guy who invented the door knocker got a no-bell prize.
I saw an ad for burial plots, and I thought: “That’s the last thing I need!”
Need an ark? I Noah guy.
I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not so sure.
What did the grape say when it got stepped on? Nothing–but it let out a little whine.
What do you call a super articulate dinosaur? A Thesaurus.
Sleeping comes so naturally to me, I can do it with my eyes closed.
And here are some signs that were photographed and posted online. They too made me laugh.
Sign in a bookstore, which might be too true to be funny: “The post-apocalyptical fiction section has been moved to Current Affairs.”
Sign in a coffee and bakery shop: “Skinny people are easier to kidnap. Stay safe. Eat cake.”
Sign in a public washroom: “Wash your hands like you’ve been eating Doritos and you now have to take out your contacts.”
Sign by a drive-through food place: “Buy one burger for the price of two and receive a second burger absolutely free!”
Sign on a freeway overpass: “Who hates speeding tickets? Raise your right foot.”
Sign in a store window: “If it’s in stock, we have it!”
Sign by a public building: “Unattended children will be given an energy drink and be taught to swear.”
And finally, a sign that reflects what is dear to the heart of the Camrose Booster: Shop local ’cause Amazon won’t sponsor your kid’s ball team.
***
I’d love to hear from you! If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, send a note to Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com. I’ll happily reply within one business day.

City upgrades boilers

By Lori Larsen

Recent upgrades to the City of Camrose Encana Arena boilers are an investment well worth the money, with a projected savings of $8,000 to $10,000 annually for the City.
Facilities within the City are monitored daily through routine maintenance and upkeep to ensure that everything is operating at top efficiency, not only to reduce the risk of equipment or machinery failure, but to ensure the City is making every effort to be energy conscious.
Recognizing that the installation of newer more efficient boilers would not only save the City costs, but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a decision was made to replace the old non-condensing boilers with high-tech industrial condensing boilers.
“The original boilers were aging and were very inefficient, and maintenance costs were rising to keep them running,” explained City of Camrose Community Services general manager Ryan Poole.  “It was time for them to be replaced with something more efficient and maintenance friendly.”
According Poole, the original boilers had to be used at full capacity in order to be effective, and were approximately 75 per cent efficient in terms of energy usage, whereas the new boilers are approximately 98 per cent efficient.
The three new boilers operate sequentially and have higher heating efficiency, lower running costs, and were easily integrated with existing distribution lines for a cost-effective retrofit.
On top of the savings in energy and maintenance costs, the City is completing the final documentation to the Municipal Climate Change Action Committee (MCCAC) in application for a refund for a portion of the installation costs, which, if successful, could mean 75 per cent back towards the $182,530 supply and installation costs.
“This was an opportune time for collaboration,” said Poole. “We used ATCO Infrastructure Services to do the engineering study, documentation, provide the project plan and implementation to the MCCAC so we could get approval for the project (which took approximately six months for approval). Dee-Jay Heating and Plumbing (a locally owned company) was also instrumental with the installation of the boilers.”
In addition, the City made some energy efficient changes to the ice making equipment, changing from six MBTU (one million British Thermal Units per hour) to 4.5 MBTU, which will also assist in heating the arena more efficiently.
Poole explained further, “What used to happen was the machine that refrigerates the fluid that goes under the arena (referred to as an ice maker), which is similar to a huge refrigerator, gives off heat. We used to take that heat and help heat the building with it, but that made the ice maker work harder. Now we don’t need to do that anymore, because we now have these very efficient boilers, and the ice maker doesn’t have to work as hard any more.”

Aquatic Centre hours vary

By Lori Larsen

The reopening of the newly renovated Camrose Aquatic Centre has seen its share of ups and downs as a result of the pandemic.
Despite a grand opening that took place last September, the new pool has experienced closures due to restrictions and recommendations of Alberta Health Services, which resulted in layoffs of staff as well.
Unfortunately, that has meant a reduction in programming and hours of operation at the pool.
“We’re not the only aquatic centre struggling,” said Community Services general manager Ryan Poole. “It’s happening in municipalities all across Alberta.”
Because of the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the City temporarily laid off all but two administrative staff at the Aquatic Centre when the province forced the COVID-19 closures back in December. According to Poole most of the staff that was laid off have since moved on to other jobs and won’t be returning.
“You can’t blame them. When you’re laid off because of provincially-mandated closures and you have no idea when things will be open again, of course it makes sense to move on to another job that can offer that security,” said Poole.
As a result, the biggest staffing issue the Aquatic Centre faces is finding certified lifeguards, a position that requires a significant amount of training.
Additionally, Camrose is at a disadvantage since the Aquatic Centre was closed prior to the pandemic, and therefore, there were fewer children in the area taking swimming lessons and moving on to leadership courses.
“We’re already stretched thin. And with lifeguarding, it’s imperative that our staff stay sharp, because someone’s life may be on the line. We want to make sure our patrons are safe,” explained  Aquatic Centre manager Marcia Peek.
In thanking residents for their continued patience, Poole added, “We really do understand how frustrating it is for our residents. They’ve been excited about this facility opening for so long, and we just haven’t had the ability to open it. Help spread the word that we’re looking for lifeguards and we can start using the facility to its full potential.”

Former student releases new book

By Murray Green

Former resident of Camrose and an alumni of the University of Alberta Augustana Campus Joel Lefevre wrote a book based on the story of his brother entitled Forcing the Hand of Justice: Seeking the Truth About My Brother’s Death. My Family’s Fight Against a Broken System.
 Joel received his bachelor of arts degree in drama and grew up in New Sarepta before living in Camrose for six years.
“I have published a new book detailing a true story which happened to my family and I back in New York years ago. The story made headlines on CNN, and the New York Times and Wall Street Journal,” shared Joel.
Back on Oct. 18, 2011, Joel and his family’s life changed forever when his older brother and best friend Mathieu was hit and killed by the driver of a 28-ton crane truck.
“Fighting this ‘David verses Goliath’ battle against the NYPD was long and heartbreaking, but I think it has helped us honour Mathieu’s memory. He was always a fighter, who fought to earn everything he did as an artist in his 30 years, and I know he would be proud of how hard we fought to hold police and everyone responsible for this tragedy,” explained Joel.
Mathieu, an artist, was riding his bike home from his art studio in Brooklyn, New York. Through his eyes, Joel gives firsthand knowledge of what it’s been like to go up against one of the world’s largest police forces, the NYPD.
“It took our family six years to discover the truth about how my brother was killed. I talk about the grief, sadness, anger and frustration felt during his family’s long fight for justice,” explained Joel. “I was inspired to write this story to raise awareness about traffic safety and to show others who are victims of injustice that they have a voice and that they can make a difference.”
He hopes his story will inspire others who are struggling against injustice.
“Our fight and this loss I think helped bring us all closer together and really appreciate how precious life can be, but it also showed us and others what you can achieve when you come together and fight back against injustice.”
“I think this has shown others that no matter how long the odds might be, speaking up is important and it’s worth it, regardless of the result you get in the end,” he added.
Joel is an actor and drama educator now living in Vancouver. He became a household name in Canada when he competed on the popular TV show Big Brother Canada.
Joel has previously worked as a radio news anchor and reporter interviewing major public figures in politics, entertainment and sports. He holds a radio and television certificate from the Western Academy of Broadcasting, Saskatoon, SK.
Joel teaches drama workshops as part of programs for students from Kindergarten to Grade 7. When he’s not teaching, he continues to work on films and television shows.

Major Parker had a dream to fly

5 snowbirds
In 2018, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds put on a stellar aerobatic performance of precision flying.

By Lori Larsen

Many a child has looked up to the skies in marvel of the majestic maneuvers of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and dreamt of being one of those pilots.
Canadian Forces pilot Major Brett Parker, by his own admittance, was that young child.
“I have always had the desire to fly since I was a kid. I would drag my parents to air shows back when I was in elementary school and junior high. Arguably, the jets were one of the biggest draw factors for me. Ultimately, what I always wanted to do was to fly airplanes and I have been very fortunate to be able to do so.”
With a dream to eventually soar through the clouds, Major Parker joined the forces in 1999 under the Direct Entry Officer program.
Born and raised in Edmonton, Parker has been what might be referred to as this area’s homegrown Snowbird. He has been involved in a few of the Snowbird demonstrations and fly overs that Camrose has been lucky enough to experience, and his brother Brian was with the Camrose Police Service years ago before joining Edmonton Police Service.
“We have always had that connection for the last 20 years or so,” remarked Major Parker, adding that doing air demonstrations in Camrose made it one of the closest locations to  his childhood home in Edmonton.
He graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelors of Science in chemistry and physics, which afforded him the opportunity to join the Forces through the Direct Entry Officer Program, which essentially means he enrolled, paid for and successfully completed his four-year post-secondary education on his own accord, then applied to the Forces. When hired, he received some basic training, then was fairly quickly promoted to the rank of Officer.
Parker received his Canadian Military wings training on the CT-155 Hawk (jet) at the 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (CFFTS) at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, where he ended up as an instructor on the Hawk.
“I was a first tour instructor pilot on the Hawk and that is pretty much how I started my flying career, as a pilot,” which he said was something he became very passionate about and contributed a great deal towards his successful career. “I really enjoy teaching but I still had my eye on the prize, flying the F-18 and the Snowbirds. The Snowbirds were probably the cream of the crop of what I wanted to do with my career.”
He found beginning his pilot career as an instructor to be very beneficial, “From a discipline point of view, experience point of view and being able to relate to people and understand people as an instructor. Overall, it has made me a better pilot in general.”
He went on to work in Dragon Flight as well as Standards, where he attained an A2 instructional category. “I have actually instructed three times in my career,” said Parker. “I did the Hawk, and was fortunate enough to go up and do the F-18, then came back to the Snowbirds. But then I actually went over to the UK and I was flying a newer version of the Hawk and was teaching there. When I came back from the UK in 2018, I went to 419 Squadron and I was teaching there again. It has been challenging, but it has its rewards too.”
In 2010, Major Parker was successful in becoming a pilot in the iconic Canadian Forces 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, best known as the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
His first tour with the Snowbirds ran from 2010 until 2015, when he completed four show seasons as Snowbird 5, 3 and 2. He was seeing his dream take flight.
“My mother will attest to fact that I had the fighter jet models hanging from the ceiling and Snowbird posters, all signed, all over my walls.” He even knew all the names of the pilots and the formations. He was destined to become a Snowbird pilot.
But it wasn’t an easy journey to the skies for Major Parker.
“One of the things I love to do is school visits,” he commented. “My starting word for school visit is always ‘perseverance’.”
Parker said he is not exactly the type of person to whom things come easy and is well aware of the trials and tribulations of failure and being told ‘no’.
“I graduated from the University of Alberta in ’99, but I technically applied to the military after graduating high school in ’92 and was originally told I wasn’t going to be a pilot. The military still offered me a scholarship out of high school, and I went to military school for two-and-a-half years, but I was in as a navigator. I never touched an airplane as a navigator.”
Parker said he knew in his heart that was not the path he wanted to take, he truly just wanted to be a pilot.
“So I decided as much as I appreciated the scholarship and the free education, I didn’t have the drive to do that (navigator).”
He left military college and went back home to Edmonton where he began his post-secondary education at the University of Alberta. In his third year, he stopped by the recruiting office in downtown Edmonton and spoke with the flight commander. “I asked him what do I need to do in order to be reassessed as a pilot.”
The commanding officer suggested that Parker finish his degree, then obtain his private pilots’ licence and get five hours of solo flight. “He told me he would then send me back to air recruit selection,” said Parker. “And that is exactly what I did. Then a year later, I went back to recruiting.” The rest is now Parker’s history in the skies.
“I tell kids that sometimes you are going to be told ‘no’, but that is okay, that is a part of life. Or you are maybe not going to do as well as you hoped to, but that is okay too, just continue to persevere.”
Major Parker has once again taken up position with the precision flying team as Snowbird 7, outer left wing, bringing over 4,500 hours of military jet flying experience to the team.
Upon return to the team, Parker was asked by the Snowbird boss where exactly he wanted to fly in the formation, to which  Parker replied, ‘You tell me where you want me to be, and I will do it.’
“I am a firm believer that there isn’t one job, not withstanding the boss job which is a completely separate animal, that is more important than another. If you are good enough to fly one position, you are good enough to fly any position,” he noted, adding that every position has its challenges and every position has its unique contributions.
He added that, although technically he had never flown in the number 7 position before, he was actually teaching a junior pilot how to do that position on the other side of the formation, based on all he had learned flying the other three positions he had flown previously.
“It has always been the drive for me–the motivation for me–to be a part of the Squadron, a part of this team. For me, the team has always been the pinnacle for me.”
The pillar of the Squadron is to go out and demonstrate skill, professionalism and teamwork, and when watching the Snowbirds, it becomes obvious that each member of the team, from the ground up, take the motto very seriously.
“The word teamwork is huge as we go to shows or fly over the City,” said Parker. “Obviously, a large portion of the kudos goes to the pilots, because we are the ones mainly out front and centre. But there is a huge group of people doing the work in order for us to do our job to go out in the summer. We don’t have what we have without a tremendous amount of teamwork from able bodied people across the spectrum–both from the deployed unit and the home unit.”
All the work that goes into the stunning show of aerobatics simply eludes the everyday spectator, but for the Squadron, if not for every contributing member of the team, the show simply would not go on.
“Everything we do is all about the air show season and being able to put the positive image in front of Canadians and making them proud of who they are and what we do.”
Celebrating 50 years of entertaining crowds on the ground and instilling a huge sense of pride for Canada, the Snowbirds team is happy to once again be able to hold air show demonstrations over Canadian communities. “As the world deals with the back end of the pandemic, we are slowly getting back out there, getting the message out, making some noise and putting some smoke overhead,” said Major Parker, adding that the team is looking forward to providing a great show for onlookers during the drive-in tailgate-type event scheduled to occur on July 24 and 25 overhead in Camrose.
Even though, due to Military rules in place as a result of COVID, this show will not include a static demonstration or meet and greet with pilots, Parker said there will be two-way communication with a ground crew that will be heard through a local radio station and the Snowbirds music will be choreographed to the formations. “I am really looking forward to coming to Camrose,” concluded Parker. “Yes, we are staging in Edmonton, but we (pilots and crew) are going to be staying in Camrose out amongst the community through the weekend. It’s as close to home as I can possibly get.”
Be sure to look for Major Parker in jet seven during the Camrose Drive-In Air Show scheduled for July 24 and 25. For more information on the air show, and admission to the show, visit the Camrose Flying Club website at camroseflyingclub.ca.

Film premieres at Bailey

By Lori Larsen

In partnership with Typecast Anonymous, the Bailey Theatre will be presenting the film premiere of Where or When? on July 24, show time 7 p.m.
The one-act play, written by Erica Toews and Jonathan Ewing, was filmed inside the Bailey Theatre and features Liam McKinnon, Kiara Corkett, Claire Aldridge and Grace Baker, and was directed by Mike Hicks.
The film of the play centres around Frank, Julie, and Ma Miller, a family of lifelong farmers. After Pa’s death, Frank feels the responsibility of the farm becoming an increasing weight on himself. With Julie leaving for the city and Ma becoming more of a burden than a help, the pillars are crumbling around him. Suddenly, an old friend appears, who throws a wrench into the downward spiral of the farm.
The evening event will feature the debut screening of Where or When?, a live music performance by the film’s composer and will be followed by a panel discussion with the actors, director, and writers.
Light food and refreshments will be provided as part of this event.
For more information on Typecast Anonymous, visit typecastanonymous productions.ca.
For more information on this event or any other upcoming Bailey events, visit baileytheatre.com.

BRCF assists Centra Cam

The Battle River Community Foundation awarded $9,900 in grants to Centra Cam Vocational Training Association.
The grant is from income from the Gordon French Fund, started to enable the disabled to participate in employment opportunities and the Foundation’s Community Funds, which are funds generous donors have given to the Foundation, with the direction that income be awarded at the Foundation’s discretion. The grants provided funding to purchase technology to enable Centra Cam clients to participate in programs remotely. As well the funds will be used for cleaning of ducts at the Association main building, leading to a healthier atmosphere for clients, visitors and staff.
The Battle River Community Foundation exists to support charitable organizations in East Central Alberta, which benefit the local communities and have a positive impact on the future.
Since it was founded in 1995, the Battle River Community Foundation has granted over $7,250,000 to support charitable activities in the Battle River Region.

Urban forests featured

6 trees by augustana
The Urban Forest presentation will begin at the micro-orchard located beside the old church (Theatre) on Augustana campus.

By Lori Larsen

The benefits of maintaining urban forests continue to be a topic of importance around the world. They reduce air pollution and provide oxygen, improve water filtration, store water, and reduce storm water runoff.
On July 22 at 7 p.m., join University of Alberta, Augustana Campus assistant professor in sciences Greg King outdoors at the Augustana campus, in his presentation on the vital role urban forests play in all our lives.
“This presentation will introduce you to Camrose’s urban forest via a guided tree tour in the Augustana neighbourhood,” explained  Dr. King. “The presentation will provide details and examples of key ecosystem services and their economic values, drawing from a complete inventory conducted in the neighbourhood in 2019.”
The walk itself is approximately 1.2 kilometres and will include between eight to ten stops along the way.
The presentation is estimated to last between 75 and 90 minutes.
Attendees are reminded to maintain social distancing during the presentation and tour, and are encouraged to wear comfortable and appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoor activity.
“Last week’s presentation (yoga) was a fantastic way to end the day,” said City of Camrose Greenspace and Wildlife Stewardship coordinator Rhyleigh Henault. “We first learned about the connections of our bodies, minds and hearts, and how when these are all listening to each other, we ourselves can live more sustainably and with less stress.
“We also learned about the historic roots of yoga and their meanings, such as the compassion and non-violence meant by the Ahimsa facet of yoga. These different parts of Yoga also allowed us to make connections to how we can integrate Yoga into our lives and promote environmental sustainability.”
Henault said the evening presentation concluded with a calming and relaxing Yoga practice made of various stretches and postures to help bring participants in tune with their bodies and forget about external stresses.
Anyone attending a presentation will have an opportunity to win a gift card from a local business from the random draw made during the evening.
For more information on the July 22 presentation or upcoming presentations featured in the Camrose Wildlife Stewardship Society summer programs, contact the City of Camrose Greenspace and Wildlife Stewardship coordinator Rhyleigh Henault at wildlifestewardship@camrose.ca.

Bailey showing movie Casablanca

By Lori Larsen

Of all the gin joints, the Bailey Theatre should be the one you walk into on July 23, for the showing of the classic 1942 film Casablanca.
Starring Humphrey Bogart (Rick Blaine) and Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa Lund), this film is renowned for its daring (at the time) portrayal of a love triangle and tumultuous times in the early stage of the Second World War.
Rick’s world is turned upside down when his former lover Ilsa shows up at the café, hoping for Rick to help her fugitive husband escape the Nazis.
Treat yourself and a loved one or friend to a summer night out.

CPS cracks down on tinted windows

By Lori Larsen

Some vehicle operators/owners may think it is esthetically pleasing to have tinted windows all the way around their vehicle. However, the law says differently, and for good reason.
“Tinted windows make it extremely difficult for drivers to properly see out of a vehicle, especially during dark hours,” explained Camrose Police Service Traffic Enforcement officer Constable Sarah Day. “It can also cause an issue for pedestrians who are trying to cross a street to make eye contact with motorists.”
Sections 70(1) of the Alberta’s Vehicle Equipment Regulations state that a person shall not install, replace or cover the window glazing in a windshield or in a left or right side window of a motor vehicle that is beside or forward of the driver with a transparent, translucent or opaque material. Section 71 and 72 further deal specifically with regulations regarding vehicle window glazing.
“Basically, there is no tinting allowed on the front side windows or windshield of a vehicle or in the case of a two-door vehicle, the back window as well,” noted Day. “In the case of a four-door vehicle, tint is allowed on the two rear windows and the back window.”
Commercial vehicles are not allowed tinting on any of the vehicle windows.
Tinted windows also make it difficult to clearly see inside a vehicle, creating unsafe conditions for law enforcement personnel.
“It is important for our safety, and public safety, to be able to see how many occupants are in the vehicle and what they are doing.”
Tint can also make breaking a window more difficult for emergency personnel needing to breach a vehicle’s window that has been involved in a collision.
“We often hear drivers/owners say that the tint was done by the manufacturer, but as the owner/operator of that vehicle, it is your responsibility to be aware that it is against the law,” said Constable Day.
The fine for tinted windows contrary to the Alberta Vehicle Equipment Regulations is $81.
For commercial vehicles, the fine is $310.

Royal families featured at Heritage Railway Station

9 railway gardens
Displays at the local museum show the
various railway trips made by royal families over the years. The railway was used to travel from one end of the country to the other in the early days of the province.

By Murray Green

The British royal family used Canada’s railway system in the past to view the sites in this country.
Camrose Heritage Railway Station, 4407-47 Avenue, will be featuring displays entitled The Royals and the Railway on July 24 from 1 to 4:30 p.m., weather permitting.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the displays of Royal visits to Canada, including several transcontinental tours made by railway.
The event will feature costumed interpreters as members of the British Royal family from the 1920s era, including Queen Mary, wife to King George V. Guests are encouraged to dress in 1920s garden party attire.
The first official Royal visit to Canada was made in 1860 by Queen Victoria’s son Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII).
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V and Queen Mary) made the first transcontinental Royal tour by railway in 1901, travelling by CPR from east to west across Canada and back.
Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), made official tours in 1919 and 1927, and also made several private visits to his Alberta ranch.
The first reigning monarchs to visit Canada were King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, who visited from May 17 to June 15, 1939, excluding four days spent in the United States. On this trip, the Royals travelled west by CPR and then back east by CNR. They were greeted by enormous crowds and deemed the trip very successful. After the trip, King George VI gave permission for the class of locomotives that pulled his train to be called the Royal Hudson and to display the Royal Crown on the running board skirts. This was the first and only time the Royal designation was used for a locomotive outside of Great Britain.
Admission is free, but there will be special tea and cookie plates available for purchase, and donations are encouraged.
Entertainment will be provided with music in the gardens. Garden tours will be available, as well as tours of the station and outbuildings.
The Morgan Garden Railway (G-scale model railway) will be running.  The White Elephant gift shop will be open.
If you can’t attend at that time, regular hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday, with the museum, grounds and gift shop open.
The tea room is not currently open, but starting soon, they will be offering self-serve coffee, tea, pop and ice cream treats for purchase.
This day will in part be held outdoors, so some events will be weather permitting.
They are always looking for more volunteers to help with gardening, maintenance and other tasks. You can email canadiannorthern@telus.net or stop by the museum to pick up a volunteer application form.

Harrison placed second

By Murray Green

Riley Fleming of Calgary and Andrew Harrison battled for several days in the Alberta Open championship at the Wolf Creek Golf Resort near Ponoka.
Fleming posted rounds of 65-67-69 for a 54-hole total of 201, six strokes ahead of Camrose golfer Andrew Harrison, who had rounds of 68-69-70 for a total of 207.
Michael Harrison of Camrose, Andrew’s brother, tied for 19th at 70-75-74 for a score of 219.

Earnshaw memorial located at museum

By Murray Green

Camrose will be honouring RCAF flying officer Ken Earnshaw with a memorial project at the Camrose and District Centennial Museum.
“We encountered location roadblocks, which forced us to delay our planned May 2020 unveiling. We are determined to see this through. Earnshaw was not only a hero, he was a role model,” said Neil Leeson, of the Camrose and Area Men’s Shed organization that is spearheading the project.
“Since then, we encountered many more roadblocks, not the least of which was COVID-19. Recently, we have been given permission to erect our monument at museum grounds, specifically directly in front of the Likeness School, which was relocated from south of Ohaton to the museum in 1966, and was the start of Earnshaw’s education journey prior to high school in Camrose and teacher’s certificate at Edmonton Normal School in 1939. We know what Ken achieved. We want everyone to appreciate his exceptional history,” added Leeson.
“Thanks to a generous donation by a Camrose County resident, we recently acquired a huge rock, which will be erected at the museum with assistance by the City of Camrose. When erected upright, it will stand nearly eight feet above ground and closely resemble the iconic pyramidal Matterhorn Mountain of the Swiss Alps. We believe it will serve a lasting and fitting tribute to Ken’s valour, and we will spend this summer and fall preparing it. He could have gone back to Canada because he was done his tour, but when he was asked to help in a secret mission, he readily accepted. It is worth the roadblocks for us to honour him.”
The new target for unveiling is Tuesday, May 17, 2022 (79th anniversary of the RAF Dambusters Raid of May 16 and 17, 1943).
Kenneth Earnshaw was born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, England on June 23, 1918, the son of Joseph George Earnshaw and Janet Hannah Green. The Earnshaw family moved to Canada in 1919, and settled in the Thirlmere district, northeast of Ohaton. Joseph and Hannah Earnshaw were farmers, and Ken, along with his sister Nora, grew up in the rural community.
Ken attended public school at Green Grove, a rural Alberta school, and high school in Camrose. During 1938 and 1939, he enrolled in Edmonton Normal School, where he obtained his teaching certificate.
From Sept. 1, 1939 until June 30, 1941, Ken taught at Whitebrush School near Bashaw.
Mary Gladys Heather and Ken Earnshaw were married in Regina on Nov. 7, 1941, while Ken was undergoing RCAF air observer training.
Earnshaw had participated in 30 combat operations as a navigator prior to joining #617 Squadron on April 29, 1943. During the early morning hours of May 17, 1943, Lancaster ED 925, while participating in the Dambusters raid on the Mohne Dam, was set on fire and crashed about three miles southwest of Soest, Germany.
Bomb aimer F/Sgt J.W. Fraser, and rear gunner P/O A.F. Burcher DFM both survived the crash, and were taken prisoners of war.
The highly successful raid on the Mohne Dam claimed Earnshaw’s life. He was 24 years old. He is interred at the Rheinberg War Cemetery in Germany.

Lefsrud finds his uncle’s half ton truck

11 auto dave lefsrud
David Lefsrud of Viking found a truck that belonged to his uncle. In a tribute, he restored it to its original condition. He enjoys researching vehicles that were sold at his family’s dealership.   

By Murray Green

David Lefsrud of Viking owns a 1979 Ford F-150 Ranger Lariat truck.
“I’ve had this truck for just over two years. This truck was originally purchased at my dad’s and his brother’s Ford dealership in Viking when it was new. My uncle would take a new truck every year when they came out and drive it for two or three months and then sell it,” recalled David.
“So he sold this truck to a local guy in town, and he drove it until 1985. Then he parked it and it sat until a couple of years ago, when I finally got it out of him. I brought it home and did the restoration on it,” explained David.
“I received a report on the vehicle that included where it was sold. It was a one-off truck that was equipped with a metric speedometer. This truck came out of the Twin Cities (St. Paul, Minnesota instead of Oakville, Ontario), the only one with a metric speedometer.”
The truck has a 460 engine. “It is all original. I had the motor out and had it redone. I had the frame off and blasted it. I put it back together and kept it as original as possible,” added David.
“The attraction to this truck was simply the family connection to it. The truck was my uncle’s and I liked the family history of it, that is why I wanted it,” said David.
 “I added a custom back to it. My son Derek is a carpenter, so he made the tonneau cover with the Ford emblem in it. The cover adds a nice touch to it.”
The sixth generation of the Ford F-Series, also known as the dentside Ford to enthusiasts, is a line of pickup trucks and medium-duty commercial trucks that were produced by Ford Motor Company from the 1973 to 1979 model years. Produced by Ford in North America, Argentina and Australia, this is the third and final generation of trucks derived from the 1965 Ford F-Series.
“My son is collecting memorabilia from the old garage and dealership to add to the history. We are finding trinkets that they used to give out. We made up some stickers that they used to put on the vehicles when they sold them, so that it looks original and is a nice touch as well,” said David.
The sixth generation marked several functional design changes and an expansion of the model line.
In 1979, it was the last year that the 460 engine was available in a half-ton truck.
Beginning with the F-100, this model has a shorter box and has an automatic transmission. The Ford F-150 most often has a longer bed, and has both automatic and manual transmission options. The drive type of the 1979 Ford F-150 can be either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. The F-150 also has an engine size that begins at 3.3L and increases from there.

Camrose housing sales remain strong

By Murray Green

The housing sales in Camrose have remained relatively strong this spring and summer.
“It appears that the increased boom of activity we saw in the first quarter has not slowed down. There were 111 reported MLS sales in the City of Camrose in 2021 quarter two, which is the best second quarter we have seen since 2016, which reported 113 sales. The average sale price is up, the median sale price is up, and the average days on market is down. The local residential market remains active and with strong demand and low interest rates, this trend is sure to continue in the short term. In addition, the lifting of most health restrictions should help to further stimulate the local economy as most businesses are finally returning to their pre-pandemic business operations,” said Jacobus Slabbert, of the Camrose office of HarrisonBowker Valuation Group.
In the second quarter, the average sale price in 2021 was $326,283, up 6.83 per cent from last quarter. The rolling 12-month average increased by 2.61 per cent.
The median sale price was $298,000 which is up 3.65 per cent from last quarter, but up 8.36 per cent compared to the same time last year. The rolling 12-month median increased by 2.05 per cent.
There were 111 residential sales in the City of Camrose in quarter two, which is two more sales than what was recorded in the first quarter, but 14 sales more than 2020 in the same time period.
There were 25 sales of more than $400,000 in the second quarter, which matched last quarter. “To put this in perspective, in the first six months of 2021, we have had 50 sales over $400,000, which surpasses the 39 sales reported in all of 2020.”
The average days on market were 78, 25 days down from last quarter.

Walk-in clinic open

By Murray Green

Alberta Health Services is offering a no appointment service to receive your first dose of vaccine.
Albertans can receive their first dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment at the Camrose Assessment Centre, 5510-46 Avenue.
The clinic will be held every Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Due to a larger supply of the Moderna vaccine product currently available, eligible Albertans 18 years and older will be immunized with the Moderna vaccine at this site.
Alberta Health Services encourages eligible Albertans to protect themselves and others by being vaccinated as soon as possible. Bring your Alberta Health Care card if you have one, along with photo ID. You will be required to wear a face mask and use hand sanitizer when visiting the site for your immunization.
Second doses are not available at this walk-in clinic.

Births and Deaths

BIRTHS
- To Amanda Arrowsmith and Brian McDonald, of Camrose, a daughter on July 10.
- To Lesley and Steven Hansen, of Camrose, a son on July 13.

DEATHS
- Keith Jerrard Schweer, of Camrose, on July 9, at 88 years of age.
- Erik Olaf (Ole) Heie, of Camrose, on July 10, at 12 years of age.
- Wilfred William Puddicombe, of Camrose, on July 10, at 78 years of age.
- Linda Kovlaske-Moisley, of Round Hill, on July 12, at 74 years of age.
- Kenneth Michael Roth, of Daysland, formerly of Spring Lake, on July 13, at 87 years of age.
- Anna de Leeuw, of Camrose, on July 14, at 91 years of age.
- Doug Schwartz, of Camrose, on July 15, at 78 years of age.
- Beatrice Myer, of Camrose, at 88 years of age.
- Lucy May Luz, of Camrose, on July 15, at 85 years of age.