July 8, 2025

July 2, 2025 was a very important day for this riding of Battle River-Crowfoot. There are Conservatives who do not think that Pierre Poilievre is capable of understanding the issues of this riding.

They feel that since he lost his seat in his riding in Ontario that he should resign. The Liberals are a very corrupt party who will do anything to win.

Carney thought he had destroyed Poilievre and that his corrupt practices would keep the Liberals in power. We, as Conservatives, must get our leader back into Parliament to defend Alberta against this corrupt anti-Alberta government.

Liberals cannot win or we could lose our province.     These people are wrong about our leader. He will win the next election and be our next Prime Minister.    Time will tell if I am correct.

Lorne Vanderwoude
Camrose

July 8, 2025

After reading Jakob Weisser’s letters to The Booster published April 22 and June 24, I decided to read the books Mr. Weisser objects to.

The Bare Naked Book was written by Canadian author Kathy Stinson in 1986. It has been around for many years. It was revised in 2021–both the text and illustrations were updated to make it more current.
I found it to be a delightful, inclusive book. It dealt with people of different shapes, ages, sizes colours and gender, and all body parts.

I have shared it with family and friends. I have read it to my granddaughter.
I would encourage readers concerned about Mr. Weisser’s comments to borrow and read this book. The illustrations reflect the diversity of people we see in our communities, at the pool, the gym and the beach.
Having said that, I completely respect Mr. Weisser’s choice to not read this book, and to not share it with his children. That is his choice, and I am happy he is free to make that choice.

I also tried to borrow the other book Mr. Weisser took issue with–It’s Pefectly Normal–only to find that it is not part of the Camrose Public Library collection. As regular library users know, the Camrose Public Library is part of the Parkland Regional Library system. There are four copies of It’s Perfectly Normal in the regional system, including one in the Stettler adult non-fiction section, and three copies in other collections.
To date, I have not been able to read this book, as it is still on order.

In Canada we have a right to intellectual freedom and to have access to books and other expressions of knowledge.

The freedom to read is the cornerstone of a strong democracy. I would be disappointed to see our provincial government, or a vocal minority of people in a relatively small advocacy group, or even Mr. Weisser, telling me what I, or others in our community should read or think.

We need to critically assess the comments and criticisms being made about our libraries and schools, and the books in them.

Our society will be diminished if we move down the path of censorship and banning of books, due to pressures brought to bear by small but vocal special interest lobby groups.
The opinions in this letter are my own, and are written in my personal capacity only.

Margaret Weir Andreassen,
Camrose

July 8, 2025

With the collapse of the postwar global order, Canada scrambles to redefine itself on the world stage. Mostly this is about trade and military buildup. But there’s a critical factor that’s been absent from news cycles, and that’s our role to fill the chasm left by the abandonment of the US in the arena of global development.

Too often foreign assistance is met with platitudes about spending the money here, and our needs come first. But this simplistic notion is blind to the fact, as we’ve seen all too clearly in the last few years, that Canada doesn’t exist in a self-sufficient vacuum.

What happens around the world has a direct impact on our economy and indeed our very health.

Helping the development of emerging countries into robust trading partners, with stable democratic leadership and the capacity to fight emerging diseases, is to our own benefit. The alternative is to push these states into the arms of hostile regimes.

Along with a greater military presence in the world, it’s critical that Canada also adopts a greater humanitarian stance through foreign assistance.

Nathaniel Poole,
Victoria, BC.

June 24, 2025

My previous letter regarding the sexual content in our children’s library was positively received from many and I have even been approached on several occasions with “thank you, someone needed to say something.”

Although, I have heard a few comments in conflict. One being a direct response to my letter from Dr. Boyd where she thanked the Library for “providing opportunities for parents to be active participants in our children’s sexual education with relevant, age appropriate resources.”

Really? Putting a book on display that shows drawings of oral sex is an age appropriate resource for my seven-year-old? And this provides me an opportunity to what? Explain what these two men are doing? I would rather not, but the Library has already encouraged him to read the book so now I have to try to explain what is happening instead of gradually guiding him through the years.

She continues on, giving a list of additional books “for parents looking for further support on navigating conversations with our kids.”

I also commend the Library for providing material for parents to navigate sex education with their kids. But this is exactly my point, these books are for parents. Which in my opinion, books that are written for parents should be given to parents, not kids.

I find it completely ludicrous, the notion that we should not install any guardrails on sexual content that is provided to children in our library system. Do we not publicly accept the importance of ratings on movies? As a parent, would you be happy if you found your kids have been watching sex on a show designated for eight and under?

If you’d like to see what explicit content school libraries provide in an unregulated library system, go to the Government of Alberta’s website. But make sure to read the two warnings offered before you view the content.

“Warning: This link contains graphic content that may be disturbing to viewers and is not appropriate for young viewers.”

I find it interesting that a strong warning is given to adults to view children’s books.

Jakob M. Weisser,
Camrose County

June 24, 2025

I read the informative article submitted by the RCMP in the April 15 edition of The Booster regarding rules of the road and school bus safety. I wholeheartedly agree with the article’s emphasis on the paramount importance of our children’s safety, especially during their commute to and from school.

I’ve noticed that Camrose school buses are equipped with alternating flashing lights, stop arms, and crossing guards (the  arm on the front bumper).

This leads me to inquire why these safety devices are seemingly not deployed within the City of Camrose itself.

The closing paragraph of the article states how seriously the Alberta Government, local law enforcement and our school boards  take the safety of our school bus riders.

Bernard Miller,
Camrose

June 24, 2025

I’m writing this letter to the Battle River School Division as a follow up to a conversation we had at the celebration to mark the opening of the accessible playground at Jack Stuart School.

At the time of the celebration, some community members raised their concerns with me that individuals or corporations who made a donation for the playground equipment were not able to be equally publicly recognized on the signage. These individuals conveyed to me that they are frustrated by what they feel is a lack of appreciation stemming from your school division’s policy to not provide any recognition for their donation.

I write this letter to you to ask that you consider rescinding the rule that prohibits recognizing donors.

While I understand that some on the board may have issue with corporations being recognized, I ask you to bear in mind that this policy of refusing to formally acknowledge generous donors will disincentive these people from giving their money for your school division’s playgrounds. As I’m sure that both the board and myself share a common interest in ensuring the best for the children in Alberta, I implore you not to potentially disincentive donors and risk losing critical funding for accessible playgrounds for your students by refusing to remedy this policy.

Jackie Lovely,
Camrose MLA

June 4, 2025

Mr. Pierre Poilievre has served under three Prime Ministers; recent contributors to The Camrose Booster have expressed concerns about his leadership qualities and his understanding of the needs and priorities of Battle River-Crowfoot (BR-CF), while others have provided unbridled support.
It is critical that voters get to know their candidates in any election.

I would urge voters in the BR-CF riding to visit the government website that tracks how every MP votes on every bill. https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/votes.

Check Mr. Poilievre’s voting record on raising the minimum wage, the First Home Savings Account program, $10 a day childcare, children’s food programs at school, the child benefit, dental care for kids, COVID-19 relief, middle class tax cuts, the Old Age Security Supplement, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, initiatives to make housing affordable that were to address Canada’s housing crises seven times from 2006-19, raising the retirement age, cuts to OAS/CPP, environmental protection bills, aid for Ukraine, to name a few.

Constituents deserve to be represented by an MP who votes in accordance with constituents’ wishes, not being told how to vote by a party whip.
His voting record on the above issues does not reflect (my) conservative values; in addition, he has vowed to (i) “wield the notwithstanding clause” thereby taking our charter rights and (ii) defund the CBC…plus others.

Can Canadians afford Mr. Poilievre? In addition to his salary, his office spent more than $8.8 million that included $7.1 million for staff salaries. His office expenditures were more than double the next highest party leader, who was Justin Trudeau.

Some contributors have described him as “principled and ethical”; it is important to remember that he was the author of The Fair Elections Act that was little more than thinly-disguised voter suppression such that even his own party would not support without substantial revision.

Is it possible that he knows Pierre Poutine, the infamous, mysterious character behind the robocalls scandal that plagued the Conservative Party of Canada?

Before the CPC lures conservatives (like myself) back into the fold, they will have to remove the remaining vestiges of the Reform/Alliance cabal. Forty years of Reform/Alliance/CPC leadership have done little for western Canada; maybe it is time to adopt an alternative strategy, namely, choose to be “inside” the governing tent.

Or…alternatively, a CPC leadership review in advance of the by-election could be the first step.

Lynn Clark,
Camrose

June 4, 2025

I am a boomer and at times I tend to forget things, but I certainly have not forgotten what the past number of years under the Liberal rule has done to what used to be a Canada to be proud of.

And it seems that all that was needed to keep them in power is to scare us from the Orange Man down south. And it’s interesting that during the campaign, the carbon tax is removed and, low and behold, did you notice it’s back on again?

Our costs keep rising and they are just going to print more money. But never fear, the great legacy media, which we pay for, states that it’s a new and improved government that has come in and will solve all. Don’t listen to the every day citizen, listen to us, they say. More homes being built, we will be an energy power, but we don’t need more pipelines, we need to take a summer vacation and not worry about a budget, just trust us. Oh...and you will own nothing and be happy.

And Pierre needs to stop with the slogans and get on the offense and fight for what is left of Canada, or maybe Alberta should just become Alberta free.

George Shostak,
New Norway

May 27, 2025

Like so many homeowners in the municipality of Camrose, I received my 2025 property tax assessment this week. Having been warned about upcoming tax increases, I opened my letter with a certain sense of dread.  I was horrified. The property taxes on my small 1950s home have gone up 30 per cent.

I went to City Hall to ask why. Their reason was simple: assessed value. Due to the current housing crisis, houses for sale under $300,000 have become shockingly scarce. Property values are going up, and my home’s value with them. It should be a good thing. Instead, the City council has turned it into a crushing burden for working families.

Each spring, nearly every house on my street floods. According to my neighbours, they have for 30 years. Improper draining from the alley pours into our basements. It’s the City’s responsibility, yet every year we pay the damages.

In Camrose, if the street outside your home is repaved, it does not come out of the City budget. It is charged to the homeowners. Tens of thousands of dollars billed directly to the families, and they are given two options: Pay outright or add it to their mortgage.

Two examples of a disturbing trend. So I ask the council, what are our taxes paying for? Not our drainage. Not our streets. How will we withstand the cost of repairs to our homes from your negligence?

I have your answer. We won’t. We will stop maintaining our homes. We won’t be able to. More houses will fall into disrepair as families make the choice between fixing them or heating them. More homes will be abandoned, torn down in favour of corporately-owned apartment complexes. Seniors will lose their gardens. Our children will grow up without back yards or water fights. Perhaps that’s what the council wants. Corporations don’t mind taxes.

Or, we will leave. Our working class will simply move away. We will lose our teachers, our nurses, our mechanics, our service workers, to places with more reasonable living expenses.

The council would turn Camrose into either a ghost town or a slum. We can’t let them.

I have applied to the provincial ministry of Municipal Affairs and asked that they look into this issue. I have spoken to our MLA, Jackie Lovely. If your story is like mine, I encourage you to do the same. Make yourself heard.

Jamey J. Wiebe,
Camrose

To the people concerned that Pierre Poilievre is using our constituency for his benefit or to the detriment of Damien Kurek, understand this is a common occurrence in Canadian politics and the technique was used by the Liberals to remove Chandra Arya and install Mark Carney as the nominee in Ottawa prior to the last election.

The only difference is that the Liberal situation was hostile. Canada uses a party system so as much as you may like (or dislike) an individual nominee, the reality is that they are still part of a party and need to work for us from within that party-the individual’s voice is often muted anyway.

To the people concerned Poilievre is too loud or too arrogant or too rude, remember his job since 2022 has been leader of the opposition and, in our parliamentary system, this person is supposed to loudly criticise government policy and be a voice of  everyone who does not agree with the government and in the 2021 Canadian election that was the voice of the 33.7 per cent of the population that voted Conservative.

Since only 32.7 per cent voted Liberal, it seems important to have a loud and consistent voice holding the scandal-laden government to the fire.

A bigger concern should be western separatism because as much as we in the west feel alienated, it will be impossible to get the other provinces to sign off on us leaving. Plus a majority of people do not want to go.  To me, the bigger concern is that the Liberals will never offer us anything since we won’t vote for them and the Conservatives don’t need to offer us anything since we will vote for them anyway.  Chew on that for a bit.

Bob Jonson,
Camrose
 

May 27, 2025

The group supporting Alberta leaving Canada claims this will be beneficial for Albertans.
I do not understand two things. First, how would it be possible for a newly independent Alberta, a landlocked country, to both deeply annoy the country surrounding it and still gain increased access to tidal waters? Second, how does Alberta leave Canada, but Albertans retain Canadian passports?

Paula Marentette,
Camrose

May 27, 2025

Damien Kurek earned his seat. Whether you agreed with his politics or not, you can’t deny the mandate, 82 per cent of Battle River-Crowfoot voters, sent him to Ottawa, again, with a clear message: we trust you to represent us. He earned it.

Just four days later, he stepped aside to make room for Pierre Poilievre. He took one for the team, but was it rural Canada’s team? That’s not democracy. That’s not representation. That’s party machinery asking voters to step aside while it rearranges the furniture.

I don’t write this as a partisan. I’ve supported Conservatives and Conservatism most of my life, like my father and his father before him. I still believe in responsible government, strong communities and local accountability. But I also believe that when a candidate earns the trust of their riding, that trust should mean something–even when the party has other ideas.

Poilievre didn’t win here. He didn’t run here. He hasn’t spent time learning the needs of this riding, or showing up for its people. In fact, his own Conservative riding–just down the road from Ottawa–fired him for not showing up. And yet, voters in Battle River -Crowfoot Alberta, are now being told to accept him as their voice in Ottawa–sight unseen, no questions asked.

You don’t have to change parties to push back on this. You don’t have to change your values.

I’ve written a longer piece exploring what this means not just for Battle River-Crowfoot, but for rural democracy and representation more broadly. It’s not an attack. It’s a reminder: that representation is supposed to flow upward–from community to Parliament–not the other way around.

To read the full article, visit https://tinyurl.com/BRC-Decision.

Wayne Horton,
Northern Ontario

May 20, 2025

I can understand that by-elections are sometimes necessary; usually a by-election is called when the circumstances are dire (for example, the death of an elected representative). But wait a minute. We just had a perfectly good election, and there are no dire circumstances: a candidate was turfed by his own constituency and so he wants a second chance. Maybe he can find a riding with a more right-leaning electorate. If a miracle occurred and he lost again, would he be permitted a third shot at it? Why should taxpayer dollars be spent running elections for failed candidates?

A duly elected MP has stepped down in what has been called a “selfless” gesture. For the individual, perhaps. But for the Conservative Party of Canada, this is a selfish and shrewd maneuver, especially if it can get Canadian taxpayers to foot the bill.
I don’t like what’s going on here. I don’t want to be represented in Ottawa by Pierre Poilievre (who doesn’t know the riding), and I don’t want to pay for his second attempt at election.

John Olson,
Camrose

May 20, 2025

I deliberately did not vote for Damien (Kurek) because the leader of his party is Pierre Poilievre. Pierre is the most insulting political party leader Canada has ever had; he spent most of his time in parliament personally insulting his opponents instead of listening and talking to them.

On the campaign trail, he spent much more time spouting three simplistic word slogans than promoting his party’s platform (unless of course simplistic three word slogans are the party program–with no details, no structure, no funding plan, etc).

In my view, anyone would be a better Prime Minister, or leader of any political party, than him.  (I admit he is not quite as arrogant or as rude as that American, but he’s definitely a close second.)

I would be embarrassed to be represented by him in any official capacity, although it might be fun to see/hear him and Premier Smith in a cat fight. They both like to redirect our attention away from the problems they have caused by creating outrageous problems for others.

And please do not tell me they are both Conservatives.

Signi Bruner,
Camrose

May 20, 2025

In regards to the recent announcement of the legitimately nominated and elected Member of Parliament Damien Kurek stepping aside to allow Mr. Poilievre to run in a by-election, I wish to voice my concern.

Before I express my concerns, sincere thanks to Mr. Kurek for his service in representing this riding. I have heard from many of my friends that he always was willing to sit down and listen to constituents’ comments and concerns with sincere interest.

The concerns I have are, firstly, Mr. Poilievre is being “parachuted” into the area without broad consultation of the local CPC electorate. Plus, do the majority of this riding want to go through yet another election so soon? Secondly, as such,
Mr. Poilievre has no real understanding of this riding and the needs of this constituency. Thirdly, if he does indeed get elected as leader of the opposition, I fear he will have so many distractions that it will interfere his serving this constituency in a way it deserves.

It may seem, at first glance, to be represented by Mr. Poilievre to be beneficial and somewhat glamorous. Don’t be deceived by this unexpected so-called opportunity. This is more for Mr. Poilievre’s benefit.

Donna Hackborn,
formerly of Camrose

 

May 20, 2025

The Canadian flag wasn’t just designed–it was deployed. In 1964, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson introduced it as a stabilizing symbol in the face of growing Quebec separatism, civil unrest, and rising fears of American cultural annexation.

Pearson believed a new flag would reinforce Canadian identity, ease federal-provincial tensions, and give the country a unifying symbol. But former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker opposed the process–not the idea of unity, but the way it was forced through a divided Parliament without full consultation or consensus. That warning proved correct.

The Maple Leaf flag emerged from one of the most bitter debates in Canadian political history. It passed not through national agreement, but through political maneuvering and a narrow vote. There was no referendum. No cross-country consultation. It was imposed from the top down during a national identity crisis.

And yet, over time, Canadians embraced it. We wear it with pride on our backpacks, stitch it to hockey jerseys and wave it on Canada Day. The flag has come to symbolize civility, peace, and national character.

But symbols only unite people when they’re shared–and as Canada changes, we should ask whether our flag still reflects who we are.

Canada today is a country of over 40 million people, across 13 provinces and territories, with over 600 Indigenous communities and two official languages. We are a federation–a union–and yet our flag shows no sign of that internal makeup. There is no fleur-de-lis, no Indigenous imagery, no reference to Western or Northern Canada, no nod to Confederation or treaties.

This lack of representation might have mattered less had the flag been chosen democratically. But it wasn’t.

This isn’t an argument to discard the Maple Leaf, but it is a call to finally consult Canadians. The flag deserves consent.

Many countries design their flags to represent internal unity. The U.S. has stars for each state. Australia’s flag reflects geography and constitutional heritage. Canada’s design is abstract, simple–and silent on who we are internally.
The good news? Revisiting the flag doesn’t require a constitutional amendment or royal assent. Parliament can do it today by passing a new resolution. That could launch a public consultation–one that includes provinces, Indigenous nations and everyday Canadians. The result might be reaffirming the current flag. It might be reimagining it. Either way, the process itself would be unifying.

Let Canadians choose–together.

Brock Crocker,
Edmonton, formerly of Camrose area

May 13, 2025

I want to weigh into the discussion about our current MP Damien Kurek temporarily stepping aside in order to trigger a by-election so that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will be able to run for a seat in Parliament.

I had the distinct pleasure of serving the Battle River-Crowfoot constituency from 2000 to 2019 as their Member of Parliament. I also have the unique perspective of knowing both Pierre and Damien.

Pierre is one of the hardest working MPs that I have met. He listens to Canadians and has always stood for common sense policies that Canada needs and this region respects. This is the voice our country needs. I have known Damien since he was in high school starting to volunteer on my campaign, and I have known him to be a principled and ethical MP who has become an effective political voice for this region over three terms.

This last election was a tough one to lose. Even though we are disappointed, we increased our seat count by 25, received two million more votes than the previous election, and saw the Liberals attempt to steal many of the Conservatives’ main campaign commitments. The fact that Damien and his wife Danielle have decided to put Canada first by resigning his seat to allow Pierre Poilievre to run in a by-election is a selfless act of sacrifice in service to Canada. Pierre is the right Leader for the Conservative Party and needs a seat in Parliament, so he can hold the Mark Carney-led Liberals to account, and run once again to be our Prime Minister.

I want to share that as a former Battle River-Crowfoot MP, Stephen Harper cabinet minister, someone who knows both Pierre and Damien, and as someone who has called this region home my entire life, I fully endorse this and encourage the constituents of Battle River-Crowfoot who voted for Damien to fully support Pierre in the upcoming by-election.

Kevin Sorenson,
Former MP

May 13, 2025

When I found out that Damien Kurek is going to temporarily step aside to allow for Pierre Poilievre to run in an by-election, I was quite excited.

My good friend Kevin Sorenson was the MP for Battle River-Crowfoot since 1993. When Kevin retired, I was quite disappointed. But life does go on. When his office manager stepped up in 2019 and ran in the federal election and won, I was quite excited. Both men are very honourable and I support them fully.

When I heard about Poilievre, I was so angry to what happened to this poor man against 93 candidates. How ridiculous to even allow this to happen. I admire this man for the sacrifice he is making for our common sense party.

I also admire this man, Poilievre. I am so excited to have him as our MP. I might get to shake his hand. I am looking forward to having him elected in our riding so much. This is a good day for me. I am feeling so optimistic towards the future of our common sense Conservative Party. I cannot believe it. Poilievre our MP. This is so unbelievable. It is a dream come true.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

May 13, 2025

On behalf of the Bailey Theatre Society, I’m thrilled to recognize National Volunteer Week in Canada and to thank the volunteers of the Bailey Theatre. The theme of National Volunteer Week is “Together, we create ripples of change.” What an exciting slogan. Our volunteers don’t sit back and “ride the wave,” they create the ripples.

Thank you to all our volunteers for your devotion to our theatre. Thanks to the ticket takers, ushers, front of house people, 50/50 ticket sellers, hospitality cart attendants, popcorn poppers, photographers, changeover crew, tech volunteers, facility upkeep volunteers, recycling folks, bottle drive helpers, committee members and members of our board of directors. You help in so many ways and do it with your own special passion and enthusiasm. Ripple on.

Colleen Nelson,
President of the Bailey Theatre Society

May 13, 2025

Alberta alienation is real and dangerous. We are essentially a colony within federation, treated with disdain by both major parties: by the Liberals because they have virtually no seats here, and the Conservatives because they take our support for granted and have no competitors.

While Premier Danielle Smith advocates for antagonizing the federal government, there is a much more democratic and durable solution: proportional representation.

In the last election, the Conservatives won 34 seats in Alberta, the Liberals only two and the NDP one. Those are pretty stark numbers. But consider that the Conservatives only garnered 65 per cent of the total vote share, yet they secured around 92 per cent of the seats.

The Liberals garnered about 30 per cent of the total votes, but secured only five per cent of the seats. If you think the math seems off here, you’re right. And many of those Liberal voters, I bet, would have supported the NDP in a more representative system. That means you have 35 per cent of people in Alberta with no representation. Now that is alienation.

Say that you are happy that Liberal and NDP voters are isolated. Fair enough. But our current first-past-the-post electoral system hurts those on the right as well. Someone might wish to vote for the People’s Party, but why would they, if they know there is no way this party will earn a seat and represent them in Ottawa?

And why would a Conservative MP in Ottawa care about those more right-leaning voters? They know they have Alberta locked up, their real prize is Ontario and Quebec. They have virtually no incentive to represent Alberta’s interests in parliament.

We have an epic opportunity in Battle River- Crowfoot: ask Pierre Poilievre whether he supports proportional representation. My guess, he doesn’t, not because it is not fair, but because it will loosen his party’s grip on power. In this, he is no different than Justin Trudeau. I would gladly give Poilievre my vote, if he fights for electoral reform to give everyone in Alberta a voice.

Tony Scott,
Drumheller   
 

May 6, 2025

I almost called my older sister the other day. A dual citizen, she lives in busy mid-town Manhattan, west side, her home since 1970. Having the right aggregate of personality plus, a ruthless organizer, the gifted schmoozer who won’t take no for an answer, she contracts out as a special events coordinator. To her, nothing worth her attention exists outside of New York City. And like, I totally get it (pretend i’s a city).

I called her after the second plane hit the south tower. And in the chilling depths of COVID-19. She was stunned at the first and terrified of her fragility at the second. Born five years apart, there was no cultural scaffolding to bridge the divide, epochal shifts being the only real connect. Given the evisceration of her 401 (k), I figure it’s her turn to call me.

Americans have always been part of our national Dream. During their revolution, War of 1812, underground railway, gold rushes, civil war, Vietnam war and Trump 1 and 2, Canada provides a safe haven for dissenting Americans of all stripes. Their prolific tap roots, sunk deep by pioneers, their Canadian American progeny (est. population one million) entwined and indiscriminate of any border line.

I should get up early on Sunday (everyday can’t be Sunday) and give her a call. I know she’ll be at home with a fresh press of dark roast, reading the NY Times on her tab and listening to Yuja Wang rock a Steinway. It’s been way too long for us and there’s a lot to catch you up on. I love you, Sis. May God shelter her with His love and keep this lioness close to His side.

Andy Stephen,
Heisler

May 6, 2025

I would like to share with you my experiences since moving to Camrose 25 years ago. I chose Camrose because it was beautiful, had a lake, plenty of walking paths, trees, parks and it was clean. It reminded me of my home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

I will share some of them, I will not mention names, but you will recognize your friends and neighbours.
My realtor helped me find the perfect home within my budget. I then needed a contractor and found one of the best. He understood my projects and he and his helpers had fun getting the job done. I was also treated to a home-made, hot meal as we worked.

I decided one day to venture out for the perogy supper at the church, which I saw in The Booster. I got lost, but approached an elderly couple as they were getting into their car. I asked if they could help me and of course they said yes. They invited me into their house, read the paper and then gave me directions and said welcome to Camrose.

I then needed paint, supplies and visited the paint store where friendly helpful service was given. I chose blinds as well and another friendly person later treated me to a Freddy Fender song at my first Jaywalkers’ Jamboree.

I did some work at the CRE and had the best manager/boss ever. I also did yard work and housework, learned so much about plants from my clients.

My house painter and his family became my family. My house took on a new look, my pup also found friends.

The movers that I chose were helpful, friendly and did a professional job.

Over the years, I met neighbours who shared time, meals, helpful information over the COVID-19 time. I was able to share time with their teenagers and have baking sessions and lots of laughs.

We have a neighbour who would offer to drive us to the airport over the years, his response was “that’s what neighbours do.”

Recently, due to hospital stays these neighbours, friends and children all supported and helped by driving me to appointments, running errands and just being there for me.

I would like to end this by letting the people of Camrose know that you are “the best of the best” to share your kindness with others.

Darlene Brash,
Camrose  

May 6, 2025

As a parent of two young children and a family physician who provides reproductive care from contraception to supporting folks with unplanned pregnancy, I commend the Camrose Public Library for their valuable work providing sexual educational resources for children.

Thank you to Jakob Weisser for opening space for this vital conversation in your Letter to the Editor on April 22.

Parents are our children’s primary guide to learning about sex and ideally this happens through many small conversations and teachable moments. Commonly these opportunities arise unexpectedly, whether on TV, radio, Internet, conversations between kids or at the library. As parents, the most important thing we can do is remain open for our kids to ask us any question. If your child is curious about a book that doesn’t feel age appropriate, a simple answer might be “this book contains information about changes your body will make when it grows older” or “this is a book about sex; I am an important teacher for you about sex and can share more information to answer your questions on our drive home.” Providing simple, accurate answers  provides our kids with the information they need and keeps sex and bodies from being shameful or silenced.

Our library has an excellent collection of books on bodies, puberty, sex, and gender, allowing families to choose the ones most fitting for their kids at different ages. As parents, we always have a role in helping our kids select books that support their learning in alignment with our values, no matter the content. Sex is a normal, healthy part of being human and research shows kids who talk with their parents openly about sex are more likely to wait until they’re older to start engaging in sex and take steps to prevent pregnancy when they do eventually start.

For parents looking for further support on navigating conversations with our kids, resources include Yes, Your Kid by Debbie Herbenick, Sex Positive Talks to Have with Kids by Melissa Carnagey, as well as the website sexpositivefamilies.com.

Thank you to the Camrose Public Library for providing opportunities for parents to be active participants in our children’s sexual education with relevant, age appropriate resources and to The Booster for providing space for public discourse and conversation.

Dr. Charley Boyd,
Camrose

April 29, 2025

My wife and I were travelling at highway speed on a fairly busy provincial road when we saw up ahead a 40ish looking man waving to get vehicles in our lane to stop. Just days prior, we had a conversation about being on the lookout for ways to be generous to others in need. So, we stopped.

The man pleaded with us through a foreign accent, “I need cash; I have no cash to buy gas. I give (sic) you my phone, my t-shirt, my gold bracelet, but I need cash.” We repositioned our vehicle safely to the side of the road and the man walked around to my wife’s side. He repeated his pitch. A quick glance across the road at his (?) late-model SUV darkly tinted rear windows, a male passenger avoiding eye contact, created some questions in our minds. A lot of what he was saying didn’t add up.

I asked him, “Do you have a container to carry fuel?” He repeatedly said, “Yes, I can drive.” I asked again about a fuel container and he assured us he could drive. At that point, I/we should have driven away. But we didn’t. Still wishing to help, we gave him the only cash we were carrying; a $20. He protested, “I need more” and again offered his items. We told him we had no more to give and drove off.

As we continued on our way, we contacted the RCMP complaints department. A staff member politely recorded the details as we could remember them. We were assured by the staff member that was okay, but when we told her we had been offered his gold bracelet…she finished our sentence. She’d heard it before. Yes, this indeed was a scam. She thanked us for the call and assured us an officer would follow up with us.
We had felt hurried and flustered by the guy’s position on the highway and his overly dramatic request. We hadn’t felt safe where we were parked and wanted to leave as quickly and safely as possible, all the while still wanting to help.

An officer followed up on the complaint and called a few hours later, confirming the scam. Fortunately, it was only $20.

I am embarrassed to share this story, but hopefully it can serve as a public safety notice as well. It’s good to be kind and generous. It is also good to be cautious.

Brian Krushel,
Camrose

April 29, 2025

Canada’s National Volunteer Week (April 27 to May 3) is a particularly special one this year.

For the past few months, most of us have been helping our country and community stay strong, vibrant and united as we tackle the impact of actual, threatened and future tariffs. While these are concerning times, I have noticed a silver lining, a reminder of just who we Canadians really are.
Canadians are kind, compassionate, helpful, resilient folks ready to join together with “elbows up” when the going gets tough. We do this with relative ease, in part because so many of us have always helped out by volunteering. We are committed and we are engaged. We care about our neighbours, friends and communities.

It is this Canadian spirit that especially inspires me during National Volunteer Week this year.

When I retired four years ago, I was invited to serve as a volunteer on two local boards, the Bailey Theatre Society board, and the Camrose Public Library board. What a joy this has been.

Volunteering is great. I have met new people, contributed to my community, continued using my skills, kept my brain and body active, and had a lot of fun to boot! I have learned so much around the CPL board table and watched amazing shows while helping out at the Bailey.

For the past two years, it has been my privilege to serve all the Bailey volunteers as their volunteer coordinator. Who knew I could almost succeed at scheduling, one of the hardest tasks I encountered during my working years! With so many awesome Bailey volunteers, it’s not hard to fill the slots, and it’s a delight to work a shift alongside them, as well as our amazing Bailey staff.

This year, amidst a rough global storm, I am incredibly thankful that I am a volunteer, working with other volunteers, to help our community, and even our country, stay strong and vibrant.
I am especially thankful for my volunteer colleagues and friends who are part of our wonderful welcoming public library, and our heritage happening Bailey Theatre. I join my colleagues on the Camrose Public Library board and the Bailey Theatre Society board in celebrating with you.

I also want to extend my thanks to all our Camrose and area volunteers. There are so many ways to volunteer. I’m grateful for all of them, and for all of you, too.

Margaret Holliston,
Camrose

April 22, 2025

At a time when the general public is distrustful of science, mainstream media and politicians, it was heartening to read the timely article by Anne McIntosh in the Second Thought column. Her analysis and interpretation of inferential statistics and polling helps diligent readers sort out fact from fiction within the “noise” of the surrounding political hogswallow.

I would also add that reputable pollsters use valid standardized, stratified random sampling; namely, if 20 per cent of the population are females between the ages of 20 and 30, then the poll randomly selects 20 per cent of the sample strata as females between 20 and 30 years of age and so forth. Similarly, if our population distribution is 10 per cent of males over the age of 65, then the random sample would consist of 10 per cent male over 65 years.

Stratified random sampling ensures that the poll results can then be extrapolated to the population in a valid manner. The standard confidence interval is 95 per cent, which means that one can be certain that the sample results are correct within a narrow margin 95 per cent of the time…excellent odds for decision making.

The Alberta UCP has a penchant for polls that rely upon a method of people selecting themselves by phone in, write in, phone in town halls or online polls. This methodology provides meaningless results that are a waste of money, totally misleading and, a cynic might conclude, to support or legitimize a political agenda.

Don’t be fooled when uninformed (statistically naïve) editors, politicians and opinion writers make reference to the results of such polls.

Lynn Clark,
Camrose

April 22, 2025

We are in the middle of a federal election. The customer carbon tax has been lifted as of April 1. My power bill has gone down by $70.  The fuel has gone down by 39 cents.

However, groceries are still high. The other bills are still going through the roof yet our wages are not keeping up with inflation which this federal Liberal government has caused over the past nine years.  A person still has to have three jobs just to pay the basic bills. Borrowing to pay bills such as rent has become the norm.

Rent has risen past 30 per cent of one’s income over the past nine years. Something has to happen to help the average struggling Canadian. I am looking for a change of our federal government in Ottawa to happen on April 28. Get out and vote. We all need to cast a vote in order to help us save this country. If nothing changes, we could become a third world country.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

April 22, 2025

I am the father of four children who love to read. Well, at least the ones who can read love it. Each night the readers get 20 minutes in bed to read before lights out.

We don’t allow much screen time. The rule is if they want screen time, their room needs to be cleaned and their daily chore needs to be done. Once they have completed that, they can have 20 minutes of a computer game.

I am so happy they love to read and my five-year-old often gets frustrated that he has not yet mastered the skill.

They love to choose new books, but we have had to forgo them going to the Camrose Public Library due to the amount of sexual content offered in the children’s section downstairs.

“Offered” is probably not the right word. “Encouraged” would be more accurate. I was completely flabbergasted when I saw the book entitled It’s Perfectly Normal on display, at the Camrose Public Library, to encourage kids to read it.

If you don’t know this book, look it up. It is a graphic illustrated book of sexual interactions between men to men, woman to men, woman to woman, and self pleasure for my seven-year-old to look through. It is so graphic that you don’t even need to be able to read. The pictures show everything.

Since then, we have seen many other sexualized books promoted on the shelf displays. Books such as The Bare Naked Book, which is a “fun” illustrated book of naked people. We have had to make it a family rule that our children cannot wander the children’s library. We mostly just use the online system and pick them up at the front.

I am a firm believer that it is our job as parents to teach our children about sex, at the proper age. Why the library feels it is their job to promote a full sexual education to my seven-year-old is, at minimum, disturbing.

Jakob M. Weisser,
Camrose County

April 8, 2025

Over the past year, the issues which those who suffer homelessness has greatly increased. The attitude of this City council has been disgraceful and very unacceptable. My manager from the building which I clean, asked the City. Their answer was very disturbing. “We rather do nothing because we do not want these people to feel comfortable.”

There are 75 homeless people here in Camrose.   This is a municipal election year, which means we, as Camrose citizens, should make this an election issue.   Landlords and businesses have spent thousands of dollars to keep their customers/tenants safe. The response from the City Police has been to chase these people out of these areas and telling them to keep moving. This is a real moral concern for our community.

We need a homeless shelter, but most importantly, we need more affordable housing. The rentals are getting ridiculous and most of us have to have three jobs just to get by. In June, my rent is going up again. The cost of living has gone up, while our wages have not caught up with the cost of living. If this keeps up, we might all be homeless. I do wonder what the City would do about that if this did happen.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose
 

April 8, 2025

In the March 25 Camrose Booster, a writer asks “Why has Pierre Poilievre not gotten his security clearance?” A quick search of the Internet will tell you why in Mr. Poilievre’s own words.

As a minister in the Harper government, he did have security clearance. I can’t imagine that, in the years since, he has committed an offence so serious that he would be denied security clearance.

Mr. Poilievre states that he has a constitutional duty as leader of the opposition to hold the government to account. Security clearance would give him access to sensitive security documents, but then he cannot divulge any information about what he has seen. Even Thomas Mulcair, former leader of the New Democrat Party and for a few years leader of the opposition, agrees with Mr. Poilievre’s decision.

When our country is facing serious economic and social issues, surely we have more important questions that need to be answered than why the leader of the opposition does not currently have security clearance.

Gail Schulte,
Camrose
 

April 8, 2025

Canada will not become the 51th state of the USA and neither will any of our provinces.

Feelings towards this end is motivated by the inherent unfairness existing within the Canadian Confederation. Canadians have often witnessed a new government elected before votes are counted in western Canada.

The federal government, through the force of law, demands resources from western Canada to augment the standard of living for those in areas where the economy cannot sustain that standard.
It is a federal policy that demands Alberta transfer billions of dollars each year to Ottawa. This policy, as unfair as it may appear, is justified on the basis of compassion—that is only fair for the wealthy parts of Canada share its wealth with the less wealthy areas.

The unfairness of this policy is magnified when the means to produce Alberta’s wealth is attacked and jeopardized by federal law. The federal government’s attack on Western Canada’s oil and gas industry is an a example of this–unjustified in part on the premise that the consumption of fossil fuels is the cause of climate change (which is being abandoned by many as the falsity of the climate models are being exposed).

The majority of Albertans and western Canadians will continue to accept these unfair conditions as long as they can pay their bills, put food on the table and gas in their vehicles. However, when they can no longer do this their attitude will change.
Federal powers watch this condition closely and appears to be the reason Mark Carney has stated he will abandon the carbon tax to ease the burden on Canadian families.

Alberta independence has been a sentiment with a minority of voters for years. That sentiment will not grow because of the unfairness of the position of the west in Confederation—it will grow when the loss of livelihood of the individual and family becomes untenable—caused by laws and policies forced upon them by the federal government.

Jack Ramsay,
Camrose

April 1, 2025

I was quite disappointed and very unimpressed with a letter which Rob Hill wrote in the March 25 edition of this paper.  I have one question for you, Mr. Hill. Which job are you saying that Mark Carney is applying for? All of  his experience, which is impressive, is perfect if he was applying to be the finance minister.

If he wants to continue being the prime minister of Canada, he better show that he can lead our country through these difficult times for the next four years. Mr. Hill, you wrote, “He could literally get any job he wanted in financial circles anywhere in the world,” a quote by Don Drummond, a former TD Bank chief economist who also said, “Carney is a giant on the international front.”

My second question is how can the role of prime minister and the role of financial advisor be the same? May I remind you that Carney has no experience as a political person. Will you hire the bookkeeper of a company as the CEO of a company? The Liberals might have been fooled into voting this man with only 150,000 of the 400,000 possible voters within the Liberal membership. Does this bother you that something is going on behind the scenes? Your reasoning for why Carney is the perfect selection in my view is out to lunch along with the rest of the Liberal party who placed this man at the helm of their sinking ship.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose
 

April 1, 2025

Thank you, Mr. Hoff, for your thought provoking take on the election of Mark Carney to the position of Canada’s 24th prime minister and for voicing your concerns about the future of our country.

It is unclear what you mean exactly by “woke ideologies” of French Canadians and the Great Lakes hub threatening western Canada. I have never fully understood the meaning of the word woke, nor how the word itself has come to be used so pejoratively by so many people. I did some digging and have learned that woke has its origins in early to mid-century US vocabulary among Black Americans, referring specifically to racial discrimination. UBC political science professor of race, ethnicity and politics, Dr. Terri Givens explains that woke originated as a term of vigilance. Growing up black in Spokane, Washington, Dr. Givens explains that woke meant “we need to wake up to the fact that discrimination is happening to us.” Unfortunately, the term has since become a “blunt instrument of the right.” Woke is now used mockingly when referring to broader social issues such as sexism, poverty, white supremacy and challenges facing LGBTQ people, to name a few (www.cbc.ca/news).

Are these the woke ideologies that you are referring to, Mr. Hoff? I would be more concerned about the enthusiastic endorsement of Trump’s hate-filled, anti-woke ideologies by Alberta’s premier, and the leader of the CPC. These are the real threats to the future of Canada. Elbows up, Mr. Hoff.

Janet McGeer,
Camrose

April 1, 2025

According to the Oxford Canadian Dictionary, “carnage” is “the killing of many people, animals, usually with much bloodshed.” The letter does not explain why such a cruel and ridiculously inappropriate adjective should be applied to our new prime minister.

The letter claims that while Mark Carney was governor of the Bank of England (2013-20), the value of the British pound (vs. the US dollar) fell from 1.55 to 1.30, a drop of 30 per cent. No. A drop of 0.25 from 1.55 is 16 per cent, about half of what the letter claims.

The letter claims that when Carney became governor of the Bank of Canada (2008), the Canadian dollar was about on par with the US dollar, but when he left the Bank of Canada (2013) the Canadian dollar had shrunk to about 0.70. According to xe.com, the Canadian and US dollars were about on par during the whole time Carney was governor of the Bank of Canada [with the exception of time of the financial crisis (2008-09)].

Currency exchange rates are set by supply and demand.  The money market is a whimsical, but potentially high-stakes, game played by rich people who could be doing much more socially useful and beneficial things with their money. The Bank of Canada/Bank of England/etc. takes actions, including providing information, that attempt to influence–but do not determine–the relative strength of its country’s currency. As the letter indicated, the currency exchange rate cannot be said to be the result of the bank’s, or its governor’s, actions. The slight decline of the value of the British pound occurred primarily during the economic upheaval caused by Brexit and may well have been minimized by bank governor Carney.

John Olson,
Camrose

April 1, 2025

Imagine you as being the person to diligently save up a down payment for a home, or using your retirement savings to methodically search for and choose a quiet residential-zoned neighbourhood in a residential park-like area of the City of Camrose for your next stage of life. Now imagine the day when the City notifies you with their intent to rezone the desirable and peaceful area you call home to allow multiple Atco-style trailers to be moved into your neighbourhood for up to a ten-year period.

Such is the case for many people/families in their chosen Elizabeth Heights Park area of Camrose. Now, think of the vehicle impact to you and your neighbours with student drop-offs/pickups by students and from staff who use vehicles daily. (Please note that your own prized neighbourhood could be equally chosen for rezoning from Parks and Recreation District to an Industrial District). Can you see how your property would be less desirable for resale, or everyday living?

CSCN is poised to move multiple trailers into the Elizabeth Heights Park residential area of Camrose during summer 2025, from Sherwood Park, for the purposes of their temporary school. These trailers would remain in place until funding can be successfully sourced to build a permanent school; location and timeline uncertain.

This rezoning of this area (or any other area of the City) does not stop at the prospect of oilfield style, industrial-looking trailers, dozens of students and usual school-day traffic. Post rezoning of this area, or potentially yours if Elizabeth Heights Park doesn’t become the approved “home” for this initiative, opens the door for a place for slurpies, a pub on the corner, another pizza place or, as a current Camrose resident, use your own imagination and insert other future possibilities here.

I contest that the onus should be on City council and administration to allow this school to be situated on land already zoned for such an initiative.

If you agree with logic, or want to support logic, protect your own residential neighbourhood from being rezoned for CSCN’s ambition, or simply feel the need to learn more yourself on this matter, please attend the information session at City Hall at 5 p.m. on April 7. Or call any Camrose council member. The clock is ticking on this important community matter.

Richard Riexinger,
Camrose