October 21, 2025

In my recent letter to The Camrose Booster, I was wrong when I stated that the Government of Alberta fully funds students in Charter schools. I have since learned that they fund 70 per cent of what they provide to public schools, which is the highest in Canada, and is, in my view, outrageous. Some other provinces provide 35 to 50 per cent funding while Ontario and Atlantic Canada provide none. Charter schools are a business and selective in their students while also charging fees. This makes them above the reach of the average Alberta family.  We need quality education for all Alberta youth, which means more money spent on public education.

Peter Lougheed’s Conservative government believed that Albertans deserved world class public education, publicly funded health care and a natural environment protected for future generations. They believed in a commitment to the province’s welfare, integrity in public service, and that the wealth of Alberta’s oil and gas sector, through increased royalties and the Heritage Trust Fund, should sustain this quality of life for future generations. How far we have fallen.

Today’s UCP government, as evidenced by their actions, does not care about public education, public healthcare or protecting our natural environment. They do not care about the welfare of ALL Albertans and they certainly have not shown transparency or integrity in their conduct. Why are our MLAs not speaking out about the disrespect we see of constituents, teachers and support staff, healthcare workers, our youth and those moving to Alberta in the recent years?

While our Premier beats the drum for the oil and gas sector, companies are increasing production, yet there is a long-term decline in employment and further job loses in the near future. What happened to the idea of diversification of our economy? Instead of promoting pipelines, fighting with other provinces and blaming the feds while stoking separatist sentiment, perhaps the government should look at their responsibility to farmers, ranchers, manufacturing and the tourism industry. And it is people who power an economy.

Delphine J. Doerksen,
Ferintosh

October 21, 2025

The City of Camrose Council has recently stated that they have three areas of concern regarding the administration utility accounts:

a) Staff Safety, b) delinquency, and c) cost of dealing with b).

Some people are being rude and displaying inappropriate behaviour, which is totally unacceptable. However, the actual facts  to support a) and b) have not been made public.

To resolve the above, City council passed a motion to take all business and residential utility accounts and put them in the name of your landlord.

Basically, the City is blaming everyone who is a Tenant/Renter for this bad behaviour by treating everyone unfairly. You lose the independence of having your utility account in your name. You aren’t responsible anymore – your City of Camrose utility account has to be in the name of your landlord. How do you feel about not having the confidence or trust from City Hall to have a utility account in your own name?

Is the City council implying that all utility account delinquency and poor behaviour comes from Tenants/Renters only? Haven’t business and homeowners run into tough times periodically and gotten behind?

The transfer of utility accounts to landlords is simply because the City doesn’t have the procedures/policies or the personnel to carry them out. For once and for all, deal with this issue –City Hall can shut water off if it exceeds the deposit, City employees can hang up the phone if someone is rude, City employees can call the Police, or senior City employees can step up to help out at the counter if the situation warrants.

All people who object to being treated and grouped  with troublemakers should demand from City Council to pass a new motion to reinstate utility accounts for those who qualify.

Granted, the City has said account transfers will be done over time, they shouldn’t be done at all. To treat Tenants/Renters as second class citizens isn’t acceptable and is simply lazy irresponsible governance.

Perhaps greater savings could be achieved by eliminating the positions of those responsible for not having the ability and or the motivation to hold the wrong doers accountable rather than the entire Tenant/Renter population.

City Council, do the right thing – pass a new motion reinstating utility accounts and deal with your internal issue of periodic resurrection of this issue and the lack of will or ability to enforce your policy/procedure regarding the administration of utility accounts.

Mickey Mohan,
Camrose

October 14

Time to replace the Mayor and Council of City of Camrose with some better choices.

I attended Council meetings both in person and some online in the past four years. I have served on Committees of Camrose Council including Assessment Review Board, (Local and Composite), Camrose Transit Advisory, Subdivision and Development Appeal, and Council Remuneration Committee. I have a strong interest in the operation of municipalities having served as auditor, accounting advisor, and consultant to Alberta municipalities for over 30 years.

This Mayor and Council chose to not record their votes on council motions and thus the Council minutes available for the taxpayer do not have this information. I made a “promise” earlier this year, in a previous letter to The Booster, to bring this decision up during Council elections. The Councillors who supported to record voting were councillors Broker, Francoeur, and Rosland, and they deserve your vote as they represent you the taxpayer. Councillors Banack, Hoveland, Murphy voted against accountability and most definitely do not deserve your vote, as they are “hiding” all their votes. Mayor Stasko voted against the motion, and he should not have your vote.

When confronted by taxpayers, the Mayor and Council explain that it was “Council” that made the decision. With no written record of the voting, the Mayor and Councillors avoid their responsibility to explain their position to the electors. In this manner, the “administration” largely controls the discussion even before the council meeting.

Secondly, and most importantly, when you are voting, please do not be trapped into voting for the mayor and all the eight members of council and thus voting on names you only vote for based on name recognition. In my view, some members of this council are not deserving of your continuing votes (they are fine and decent people, but not suited for the roles of Council) and any new persons running could be an improvement. Please only vote for persons you know you support.

This Mayor and Council, in my opinion, have a “low” understanding of the finances and readily were maneuvered into excessive user fees, utility rates and taxes. We need better representation.

Make your votes count.

David W. Kotyk,
Camrose

October 14

On October 7, my wife and I went to the City Candidates Meet and Greet.   This is so important that we as residents of Camrose make sure that we vote in the right people for our City. I was able to have conversations with the previous and new City council members and, because of this meet and greet, which was held at the Library, I was able to have my list of whom I plan to vote for.

On October 20, please make sure to get out either to the Field House or the Mirror Lake Centre to make your vote count on who you want to see on City council and who you want as our mayor. This does affect everyone here in this City. Please take the time to vote.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

October 14

After reading The Camrose Booster of September 30, I was disheartened to read that the City of Camrose is again resurrecting the issue of utility accounts and mistreatment of their staff. In this article, management has also tossed revenue into the mix.
Tenants/renters? Landlords? This is what the City is doing. The City is going to transfer your account for utilities into your landlord’s name. Why? Because the City has identified inappropriate behaviour towards staff that staff, at times, have found threatening and unsafe. So the City’s response is to lump all tenants/renters in the same group and label them as ones who are responsible for inappropriate behaviour.
It doesn’t matter how long you have had utilities in your name, you are one of those “tenant/renters” and are being grouped in with the troublemakers.  Tenants/renters are not second class citizens and should not be treated as such by lumping them into a group that has very negative connotations.
This same topic has come up in prior years and it is quite clear that City Hall doesn’t have an effective policy or people in place to ensure the staff are treated respectfully and to deal with those who display inappropriate behaviour.
The councillors who voted for this amendment have enacted unjustly and unfairly to the citizens who pay their utilities promptly and with respect.
This new policy applies to business as well as residential, so you are no longer good enough or responsible enough to have utilities in your name. Doesn’t matter how much pride you take in paying on time or for how long–you are now under the wing of your landlord, unless of course you own your own home–you can have utilities, however, if that same homeowner rented space for their business the landlord would have utilities in their name.
In summation, mayor and council, the citizens expect leadership, downloading the problems of some by carving out a segment of the population and labelling them the same as troublemakers is irresponsible.
The way to convey to the City that you are responsible for yourself is to make your voices heard to the mayor, councillors and City management. The City staff who have endured inappropriate behaviour have been failed miserably by everyone involved which is why we are still discussing this topic. Enough, fix it once and for all. Take responsibility.
Hold those who cause the trouble accountable. Put staff in place who are capable of enforcing policy/procedures to protect staff.

Mickey Mohan,
Camrose

October 7

A teachers’ strike seems inevitable now because of the skewed priorities, the financial incompetence and lack of integrity of our current government.

The government will pay parents $150 per student per week, and hundreds of thousands on ad campaigns instead of negotiating in good faith with the people tasked to educate our children. They fully fund students in charter schools, even though they can charge significant fees and decide which students can attend (eliminating special needs kids), something no other province does, and they don’t have money to properly fund public education? ALL Alberta children deserve a good education.

The government wasted millions of dollars on an unusable Tylenol substitute (much of it never delivered), questionable private healthcare contracts and set up a costly, top-heavy bureaucratic structure and they can’t pay for Covid vaccines? They spend millions of dollars in legal fees to fight a lawsuit alleging fraud by government insiders instead of calling a public inquiry to find out if there is substance to this challenge.
Our Premier spent millions on travel to the USA to attend the inauguration of a president who is trying to annex Canada, attending right-wing policy think tanks and her Ministers met with American politicians that have no sway in trade policy and came away with no deliverables. Then they claw back federal disability benefits and increase rents for AISH recipients.

They spent millions on an “Alberta is Calling” advertising campaign in 2022. In March of 2024, Premier Smith argued with the Federal government for a higher allotment of immigrants to help grow Alberta’s economy, yet by October, she was fighting with them once again, complaining that immigrants were putting a strain on provincial resources and housing. They are now vilifying immigrants and threatening to cut services for them.

This government has spent millions touring the province with their agenda of promoting an Alberta Pension Plan (rejected in a 2023 provincial survey), a provincial Police Force, an Alberta Tax Agency and an Alberta Immigration Agency. They have passed a law to lower the threshold for provincial referendums. The Premier declares that she wants sovereignty within a united Canada yet spends taxpayer dollars on legal fees for the separatist APP challenging Elections Alberta’s decision to have the court adjudicate the constitutionality of their referendum question. All of this sounds a lot like supporting Alberta Separation.

Delphine Doerksen,
Camrose

October 7 

The Camrose Bike Bus has been running for the last school years and it has been amazing seeing kids get excited about riding their bikes to school with friends and classmates. For those unaware of the Bike Bus, it starts at one family’s house and then rides past other kids’ houses, picking up other riders along the way to St. Pat’s. There are adults leading, often some fun music and the “vibes are immaculate.” However, the number of Camrosians in vehicles who have shown impatience or general disdain towards the riders is unbelievable.

Bikes are an incredible tool and relatively inexpensive form of accessible transportation. The Bike Bus provides a fun and engaging way to empower kids to get out and exercise while getting themselves to school. We hear too much about how “kids these days” can’t, won’t or don’t do any number of things, yet when provided an option of transportation that has been available for generations, we honk at these kids and wave them to hurry up. Drivers are able to sit in climate controlled bubbles with music and a morning coffee yet are unable to appreciate kids having safe, fun transportation because they cost us two minutes on a commute.

So the next time you’re angry at kids having fun getting to school, take a deep breath, maybe sip that coffee and offer a friendly smile and wave. Next time you too could ride your bike to work and have as much fun as they are. The kids are all right.

Cole Boyd,
Camrose

October 7 

I do wonder if all those 55,000 workers of Canada Post who voted for the Liberals to save their jobs from being axed are regretting voting for this government.

The Liberals have decided to end door-to-door delivery which will take a decade to put into action.   This caused the union to have their 55,000 workers go on a complete national walkout. I personally do not send letters, but instead write emails. I do not get my government cheques by mail and most bills for are paid online.

I do understand that there has to have something done to stop the financial losses which this Crown corporation has suffered. There has to be a better way to do this – restructuring?

The way the Liberals are going is causing a lot of people to lose their jobs.   Our unemployment numbers are going to climb by thousands of claims. This will be very expensive so I do wonder how the tax payers are going to afford to pay for the thousands of dollars per month in claims. This is just something for all of you to think about.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

September 30

After reading the column by Jackie Lovely in The Camrose Booster, “Caring for Seniors,” I was reminded how important it is for elected representatives to meet constituents–especially older adults, with patience and respect, even when the issues are challenging.
My wife, a 77-year-old lifelong social worker, recently sought a meeting with our MLA to share concerns about several provincial matters. Her discussion list included the clawback of AISH benefits, the removal of certain books from school libraries, proposed limits on medical care for transgender youth, the idea of Alberta separating from Canada, possible changes to the Canada Pension Plan, and the use of vulgar political signage in public spaces.
These are complex, sometimes emotional subjects, and conversations can naturally become tense. But seniors who raise such questions deserve a calm, constructive exchange of views. I hope all public officials, regardless of party, continue to welcome open dialogue, transparency and ensure that all constituents feel heard and safe when bringing forward their concerns.

David G. Miller,
Camrose

September 23

Last weekend, I was pleased to attend the inaugural Farm to Fork Fund-raiser for Hospice Society of Camrose and District (HSCD). Set in a beautiful rural setting that encapsulated the abundance of Harvest Blessings that are upon us, this small but mighty not-for-profit continues to advocate and work passionately to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and caregivers by supporting their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.

I encourage everyone to reach out to learn more about HSCD, especially if you or someone you know could benefit from their holistic approach to providing comfort and dignity to individuals facing life-limiting illnesses and quality end-of-life care.

Providing compassionate care in a variety of settings in the community including an individual’s home, in hospital or a continuing care facility, HSCD has a dedicated board of directors, leadership team and trained volunteers to offer accessible programs and services to those in need.

I also ask that you consider advocating for HSCD in your own meaningful way. Talk about the organization with your family, friends, and neighbours.  Your efforts can help educate and increase awareness for informed-decision making about end-of-life care options.

Advocacy can also influence policy and funding decisions to ensure HSCD receives the necessary support and resources to continue to provide high-quality care to those in need. Building a strong network of support within the community can enhance the effectiveness of the organization’s programs and services.

In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight my strong support for a residential hospice to serve Camrose and surrounding area–a dedicated facility designed to offer a home-like environment for individuals who are at end of life. A comfortable and peaceful setting where individuals receive a personalized care plan tailored to their specific needs and preferences.

I truly believe, as a community, we can build and sustain a residential hospice that gives individuals facing end of life the compassionate care they want and deserve.

A heartfelt thank you to HSCD for your hard work and efforts.

Stacey L. Strilchuk,
Leduc County

September 23

The death of Charlie Kirk was very disturbing for a lot of people, not just here in this community, but all throughout the world.

The hatred which drove a person to plan and do this evil deed is very disturbing at the least.
I do admire this person’s mother and father who went out of their way to try to point out to their son the wrong thinking and to convince him to turn himself in with all the evidence.

This event has opened the eyes of millions of people who watched this event unfold in person and on the internet. Charlie Kirk’s death will be not be in vain. This has started a moment towards change here in this world. Rest in peace, Charlie.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

September 16

Recent postings in The Camrose Booster have given the Longest Ballot Committee (LBC) a bad (and undeserved) rap. Had former PM Trudeau followed through with his promise of electoral reform and if Mr. Poilievre’s Bill C-23 The Fair Elections Act had lived up to its name, the Longest Ballot Committee (LBC) would have been a nonstarter.

The LBC was not a Liberal “electoral tricks” fiasco recently stated by former MP Damien Kurek in a letter to The Camrose Booster. The LBC was an apolitical campaign to draw attention to the need for electoral reform. The LBC targeted TWO Conservative ridings, FIVE Liberal ridings and ONE NDP riding. The only “fiasco” was that taxpayers were on the hook for $1.6 million for the unnecessary by-election.

Mr. Arnold Malone’s statement “The Longest Ballot Committee favoured a system like proportional representation but ended up providing the perfect reason why we should never choose that option” is way off base. Sadly, he confuses a legitimate protest advocating for electoral reform and erroneously lumps it in with a legitimate promise for a better system, namely proportional representation.

Sad, because he fails to acknowledge that proportional representation was the MAJOR reason that ended 80 years of unspeakable sectarian violence in Northern Ireland as bitter political rivals; Ulstermen, Orangemen and Catholics came together to hammer out a peace accord.

Canadian politics has never been so polarized; who speaks for the disenfranchised hunkered down in the centre of the political spectrum and who are unwilling to join the misguided DEI proponents on the left or the evangelically driven dogmatists on the right?

Sadly, former PM Trudeau failed to examine systems currently in place in other countries. The Mixed Member Proportional (MPP) system in New Zealand is but one example of a better system.
The key features are: (i) Indigenous people get a dedicated number of seats in parliament, (ii) everyone gets two votes; one to elect a person to represent their constituency and this person typically is not affiliated with a political party, but is well educated and held a responsible position in business, industry or professional service. The second vote goes to a political party of one’s choice and its inherent ideology.

This system produces better legislation by providing competent people to represent the “centre of the political spectrum” folk and, simultaneously, ensure dialogue with the ideologically driven party representatives who frequently are career politicians lacking significant education and employment experience.

Lynn Clark,
Camrose

September 16

Just a short note to thank you kindly for your support towards the Dream Casters/Augustana Vikings Hockey Alumni Golf Tournament held in Camrose, September 6.

We had great weather and 110 golfers teeing off! Dream Casters really appreciates the Vikings Hockey Alumni asking us to partner with them for the tournament.

Thanks again for your ongoing support of Dream Casters. Really appreciate having you on board.

Barry Dillon,
Camrose

September 16

The Edmonton Public School Board’s (EPSB) reaction to the Minister of Education’s order to restrict explicit sexual images and content in school libraries was nothing but a political stunt. By claiming that hundreds of classics are now banned, the EPSB has confused the public; those books removed from school libraries have not been “banned” and are still accessible from public libraries, bookstores, online vendors, etc.

Parents have a right to protect their children from age-inappropriate sexualized material, and libraries should respect the role of parents in guiding their children’s development. Alberta’s Education Act and the Minister’s order do not call for censorship but only for reasonable restrictions, recognizing that exposure to age-inappropriate sexualized material does real psychological harm to children.

Alberta schools ought to be places of learning and not places of ideology.

Gail Schulte,
Camrose

September 2

A quick note of thanks for the amazing front page Booster photo for our “Alberta Day Movie Under the Stars.” We loved it! You were so creative! Thanks so much for helping us get the word out. We appreciate you so much!

Tanya Pattullo,
Camrose

September 2

An incident on August 19 has prompted this letter. Although the majority of drivers adhere to this law, sadly a great many do not. To what law am I referring?

“A pedestrian in a marked crosswalk has the right of away. All vehicles whose route crosses the pedestrian, including those turning, must come to a complete stop until the pedestrian reaches the opposite curb.”

The incident I refer to happened on 53 Street and 47 Avenue. (I have seen it at the hospital intersection, as well.) This street south of the highway, since it was made four-lane, seems to be treated as a freeway with speeds to match. This causes pedestrians to run across the street in case vehicles don’t stop for them.

Two young boys were pushing their bikes to cross the street on the south side of the avenue. Vehicles present stopped, as they should. Except one heading north in the centre lane. The boys were hurrying to cross when this vehicle proceeded through, missing the boys by inches. He swerved and kept right on going!

I am still shaken by what happened. I know the police are busy in the City, but vehicles breaking the law need to be held accountable before someone gets hurt. Or worse.

Lori Blades,
Camrose

September 2

Many do not realize that the tiny mosquito has profoundly shaped and even directed human history. A carrier for a variety of diseases, like malaria, this pest has brought down armies and collapsed entire civilizations. It has even shaped human evolution with the emergence of the sickle-cell trait. It is the number one animal killer of humans.

As it has in the past, it still wreaks havoc today. Each minute a child dies somewhere from malaria, even though it is both preventable and treatable. A few decades ago the world decided to fight back with the Global Fund, and malaria-related deaths have dropped by almost a third. A new, powerful mRNA vaccine has just been developed.

But then along came Trump and the collapse of US funding. Two decades of battle with humanity’s greatest enemy is now at risk of being forfeited, with countless more lives lost. 2025 is the year that funding is supposed to be renewed for this battle, but all there is now is uncertainty. It is critical that Canada pick up the torch dropped by the US and carry on the fight. For humanity’s sake.

Nathaniel Poole,
Victoria, BC

August 26 

I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Pierre Poilievre and his team on their decisive victory in the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election!

I personally did not vote for you, but I respect the decision of the people. That is how democracy in Canada works. When one loses, they are not entitled to a re-do.

As such, I wish you the very best in the House of Commons as my member of parliament. I am confident that the significant support you have received from this constituency will inspire you to advocate for the interests of Battle River-Crowfoot.
By “advocate” I refer to proposing policies that benefit both your constituents and Canadians as a whole, rather than focusing solely on criticism or permitting the spread of misinformation through misrepresentation of issues to the electorate.

Although name calling and negative attack ads were effective against Justin Trudeau, they were not and will not be successful against Mark Carney. In effect, these actions resulted in both the loss of the General Election and your individual riding seat. Such political tactics are more commonly observed in the United States and should not be associated with Canadian politics. Bipartisan cooperation is how a true democracy works. One should be able to disagree with their opponent without disparaging them.

Great men learn from their mistakes and turn negative experiences into positives. I know that you aspire to be a great man. Are you now able to proceed on our behalf without negativity by putting forth positive proposals to our mutual benefit?
It has been said that what a man gets after achieving his goals is not nearly as important as what a man becomes after achieving his goals.

Terry Morley,
Camrose

August 26 

This province recorded 389 covid related deaths (2024-25)239 influenza related deaths (2024-25), as well as 1,667 confirmed measles cases as of August 2, 2025. These statistics are shocking and alarming as we do not live in a country with scarce medical resources.

The government should be promoting science-based data to provide the best preventative outcomes for citizens. The three most important parts of public health are availability, accessibility, and affordability. In other words, there should be no barriers!

Case in point: vaccines, and in particular covid vaccines. Vaccines provide the best protection against severe outcomes and reduce hospitalizations and death. Why is this government not promoting the importance of vaccines?

Vaccines must be free, so they are affordable for everyone. Vaccines must be easy to access at pharmacies, at schools, at community centres, at mobile clinics, at senior care facilities. No one should be denied. The number of doses should not be limited so that every sector of the population has equal access. This is not a competition to secure a vaccine. Positive public messaging with a dedicated Chief Medical Officer of Health is the duty of a competent, caring, and compassionate government.

Well funded public health policies based on science keep citizens healthier and reduce undue pressures on the health care system. It is about time this government shows compassion and starts to care about Albertans rather than continuing on a pathway to destroy our publicly funded health care system.

Janice DePaoli,
Camrose

August 26

The Alberta Next travelling circus is having some very confrontational sessions. Unfortunately much of the discussion revolves around Premier Smith’s goal of “Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada.”

That statement is an oxymoron–a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear together–i.e. meaningless. Sovereignty means “supreme power or authority.”

So either Canada has sovereignty or Alberta has sovereignty but it can’t be both at the same time. The Alberta Act should properly be titled, “The Please Don’t Beat Up Alberta Act.” Canada has passed laws that are damaging to the Alberta economy so who has the sovereignty?

Listening to the news coverage of the Alberta Next panel, it seems everyone has different opinions and wants. I predict the confusion and the path of least resistance will continue in Alberta so Ottawa (Ontario and Quebec) will continue to determine Alberta’s future. So what will Alberta Next achieve?

Tony Hladun,
Camrose

August 26

I am finished worrying about the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election. We, as people in Camrose, have the municipal elections on October 20 to think about.Robert Young has submitted his notice of intent to run for Mayor this year.  There are quite a few names for the position of City Councillors.

We have a lot of issues here in our City that need to be addressed. So, listen to those who are running and pick the best who will deal with our City problems. I do urge everyone to get out and vote. If you do not vote, you do not have the right to complain. Just something to think about.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

August 19

As another season of summer sports ends and a busy fall/winter season gets ready to begin, I cannot help but send a letter as a reminder to all parents and families about the role your coaches play in your sporting seasons.

Coaching your child is a privilege that many coaches take on for the love of the sport, to give back to the community, to spend time with their children or out of necessity as “no one else stepped up.” Coaches spend hundreds of hours coaching, planning, organizing and thinking about their craft.  Whether it is arranging for snacks at a U4 soccer practice or attending multiple certification courses for an U18AAA team, the hours and time spent are immense but well worth it.

As a coach, I am well aware that you all care and love your children immensely. Sports are expensive and you are paying and committing time to allow your child to be the best that they can be while having fun. With that being said, over a season some of you will feel that your coach may not always do what is best for your child and that is your right.

Coaching is incredibly complex with many factors coming into every decision that is made. (Who attends practice, who listens, who is disrespectful to teammates and coaches, skill level, the game situation, providing an opportunity for a child and the team to be successful and so on.)

During the year, we as coaches will make mistakes (managing playing time, the team tryout selection process, navigating player’s emotions and so on) but please note that those decisions are made based on hundreds of factors that often are not observed in just the games that a parent watches. Those decisions are made for what we feel is best for a collective group, not just your child. I ask you to please be respectful of these volunteers over the coming months. Teaching your child to talk to the coach about their concerns rather than berating or confronting a coach with your concerns is probably one of the greatest lessons that sports can teach your child.

More and more coaches are leaving sport and I can attest that it is in no way related to dealing with the athletes. If you cannot be respectful of the coach then I look forward to seeing a clipboard in your hands next season.

“Coach” Chris Zarski,
Camrose

August 19

I’m writing regarding the ad for Mr. Poilievre in the August 5th edition of The Booster, paid for by a group calling itself ACT, which stands for Anti-Confusion Team. It purports to give “Urgent Voter Information” regarding the up-coming by-election. There are two aspects of this ad that warrant comment.

First, the ad states that a long ballot of 200 candidates will be given to each voter on election day. They also imply that voters can be confused by this. However, I will save them the expense of a second ad by providing the correct information. We have already voted and if the votes on the election day are run in the same way, each voter will be asked to write the name of the candidate they are choosing on a single small rectangular form. Surely they will be relieved to know that this will minimize the likelihood of voters being “confused”?

Second, the ad also implies that the long ballot “greatly contributed to Pierre Poilievre losing his seat in Carleton.” This misleading claim can be easily refuted by consulting this site: https://enr.elections.ca/ElectoralDistricts.aspx?ed=2398

In the official vote count the Liberal candidate received 43,846 votes while Mr. Poilievre received 39,333 votes. Thus, the difference was 4,513. Now, the claim that the independent votes greatly contributed to the Conservative loss doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. When you add all the votes for Independent and non-affiliated candidates, the total is 876. I submit that this doesn’t qualify as “greatly contributing” to the over 4,500 votes by which Mr. Poilievre lost. Clearly, the majority of voters were able to find Mr. Fanjoy’s name (the Liberal candidate) on the ballot. In the current by-election, all voters need to do is remember the name they want to vote for.

To conclude, it’s reassuring to know that the actual method of voting in this by-election dramatically reduces the likelihood of voters being confused. Thanks for your attention to this.

Tim Parker,
Camrose

August 19

A lot has been said in these pages on both sides of the debate related to the future of Battle River-Crowfoot. First, to the people of Battle River-Crowfoot, thank you for the overwhelming confidence you placed in me in the last three general elections. Your support has meant the world to Danielle and I, and every step of the way, we have worked to ensure you were represented and served, and I vowed to fight for the values that define this region and for a better Alberta and Canada.

It was for those reasons that I voluntarily resigned. It is clear that Pierre Poilievre needs to be in the House of Commons now, fighting for the same values he and I have championed for years.

Be aware of the electoral tricks we’ve seen before. The same “longest ballot” fiasco designed to confuse voters and only targets Conservatives is now on full display here, alongside distractions from those who are quick to insult who we are as rural Albertans.

Don’t be fooled. Pierre is an Albertan whose record speaks for itself. He has fought for the values that define this region for his entire career. He has been honest about how he will fight for Battle River-Crowfoot, bringing national attention to local issues. And while all of these other candidates and parties were disengaged or didn’t even know we existed in the last election, Pierre did. He may not have been on the ballot here, but he always took my call and fought for us.

The truth is that he is one of us, and he is the leader that Battle River-Crowfoot and Canada need. I started as a volunteer in politics and am now volunteering again to help Pierre in this by-election because I believe that’s what’s best.

Contrary to some claims, I haven’t gone anywhere and I plan to run again in the next General Election. But for now, I have cast my ballot for Pierre Poilievre, and I hope you will join me, so that he can be elected as our MP and continue fighting for us and for Canada.

Damien C Kurek,
Camrose County

August 12

We received a very thoughtful letter from a faithful reader of 20 years, regarding the “School’s Out” front page of our June 24 issue and the letter from Sean Moor published in our “Just Sayin” column in our July 22 issue. We are unable to publish the letter because the writer chose not to be identified. Pity.

Blain Fowler,
Publisher

August 12

On July 29, my wife and I went to the Lougheed Performing Arts Centre in Camrose, expecting to see the all-candidate forum which many expected would be a significant event in the on-going Battle River Crowfoot by-election. We were dismayed to learn that only those who had obtained tickets in advance were welcome and astounded to learn the tickets had been exhausted weeks ago.

But the real shock, for me was delayed until the closing remarks of the forum when an independent candidate, Bonnie Critchley, asked the audience which of them were eligible to vote in this election. Barely a third of those present raised their hands. The overwhelming majority of the ‘Camrose’ audience do not even live in our constituency. It is hard not to suppose that many of them were shills temporarily imported into the constituency by one or more of the several other interlopers who aspire to represent the Battle River-Crowfoot constituency in the House of Commons.

I have lived in Camrose for many decades and have come to feel that we in Camrose are super-Canadians: we are warm, polite and tolerant. To give a relevant example, I have never felt anything but respect from people who happen to disagree with my decidedly left-wing political views. As I watched the live streaming of the Forum, I had this uneasy feeling that the cold, uncouth and sometimes hostile behaviour of the audience was not the Camrose I thought I knew. When Critchley asked the question that exposed the charade I was relieved. The reason ‘this Camrose’ was not like the Camrose I thought I knew was that this Camrose, was not Camrose at all.

I am so grateful to Critchley for restoring my trust in Camrose that I think I will vote for her.

Roger Milbrandt,
Camrose

August 12

You may have noticed an increase in the number of solar salespeople knocking on doors in Camrose this summer. I have heard from friends and family members about people coming to their door and pressuring them into signing a contract before they even have time to evaluate what they are being offered. While solar can be a great long-term investment that reduces your electricity bills and adds to the value of your home, there are a few things to take into consideration when speaking with a salesperson.
First of all, it’s important to note that many of these companies are promoting a legitimate financing option. The Government of Canada currently offers a 10 year, interest-free Greener Homes Loan of up to $40K for eligible energy-efficiency retrofits, including solar. Your energy savings could offset the cost of repaying the loan, as the average solar system takes about 8-10 years to pay for itself in energy savings. What happens if you need to move before paying off the loan? Trends suggest that a solar system should increase the value of your home enough to cover the cost.
If you decide that you are interested in what the salesperson is offering, make sure that you:
Ask for some kind of identification, such as a business card from the representative. Reputable companies won’t have an issue sharing who they are.
Do not sign any contracts on the spot. If they suggest the price is only valid while they are there, then they are trying to take advantage of you.

Nathan Sereda,
Camrose

August 12

Misinformation is all around us and we have to be critical and mindful about what we’re hearing. Misinformation is especially obnoxious when it comes from people who are supposed to be our leaders: politicians. For example, a candidate running for election in the current by-election in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding is claiming that the Longest Ballot Committee is trying to confuse voters. But that’s not true, and it doesn’t even make sense—if you think about it:  A voter knows who he or she is going to vote for, whether the name of the candidate is on an alphabetical list of candidates (as it was in the Carleton riding in Ottawa a few months ago) or has to be written in by hand by the voter (as it will be here in this by-election), where is the confusion?!

The Longest Ballot Committee is not running a “scam” (no one is being defrauded); it is drawing attention to the need for electoral reform. The “first past the post” system does not lead to truly democratically representative government. There is a conflict of interest when politicians are in charge of election rules (including drawing electoral district boundaries), and election law should be decided by a permanent, independent, and non-partisan body, such as a citizens’ assembly (a near-quote from Wikipedia).

If a would-be politician is providing misinformation about something I know (a little) about, how can I trust that the candidate is not providing misinformation about something I’m less informed about?

John Olson,
Camrose

August 12

I now believe in Karma...it is ironic that the former Minister of Democratic Reform, Mr. Pierre Poilievre, got ensnared in a quagmire of his own making.

Mr. Poilievre was the author of Bill C-23; a.k.a. The Fair Elections Act. This Act, after being tabled, generated a tremendous amount of controversy as it was considered by most (and correctly), to be thinly disguised voter suppression. Even the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) MPs would not support his original bill, thus necessitating several re-writes before it was passed.

While I do not agree with the strategy used by the Longest Ballot Committee to interfere with election processes; an order of business in the next parliament should be to revisit and amend Mr. Poilievre’s Bill and follow through on Justin Trudeau’s unfulfilled promise of electoral reform.

Canadians need to be able to regain confidence in our elected politicos at all levels of government to “do the right thing”.

Lynn Clark,
Camrose

August 5

I would like to start out by using a phrase written in a letter from last week, “So let me get this straight.”

And from a different letter contributor last week, one who claims they don’t want an opportunist representing them who is in it to make a name for themselves, excuse me, that’s precisely what is happening right now.

Poilievre didn’t/couldn’t win a seat in his own riding, so he’s going to run in the most conservative province in Canada and in a “shoe-in” riding, possibly the most conservative riding in all of the country. But of course, not in any way to further his political career or name, but to devote himself to the Battle River-Crowfoot riding (not where he resides or not where he has a clue about its needs), but out of pure self advancement to keep a seat in Parliament.

People voted overwhelmingly for Damien Kurek because they wanted him to represent them in Parliament, not for him to immediately step down so Poilievre can “get in through the back door, riding on a popular winner’s coat tail.”

This is not democracy. To me, this whole affair makes a complete sham of democracy.

Patricia Calon,
Camrose

August 5

What is happening here? Do we understand this situation? This is about leadership.

Damien Kurek asked Pierre Poilievre to take his place as our Member of Parliament for the Battle River-Crowfoot riding.

Damien believes in Pierre Poilievre’s leadership of the Conservative Party.

I have recently sat across the dinner table with Damian and Pierre. I want you to know that both of these Alberta-born gentlemen are driven by the same principles to support the people of the Battle River-Crowfoot constituency, who share Conservative values.

If you believed in Damien, you can believe in Pierre Poilievre. They are CP brothers, united and working together, to provide us, the people, strong, experienced leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.

If you are a Conservative wanting a better Canada, you don’t vote for a Liberal, or an Independent, or any other name listed on the ballet. You vote for Pierre Poilievre.

Former Conservative MPs including Damien Kurek, Kevin Sorenson and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper all support Pierre Polievre; they believe in his leadership. They want Pierre Poilievre to be the next prime minister and so do I. Please vote for strong, experienced leadership. Vote for Pierre Poilievre. Thank you.

James Kuntz,
Camrose County
 

August 5

It’s hard to decide on the best word to describe my reaction to recent letters to The Booster. Amused, baffled, skeptical, and many more descriptive but less charitable terms come to mind. Let’s settle on “puzzled”.

I am puzzled as to why a restriction on sexually explicit books being available to children in libraries would be characterized as an attack on libraries. I am also puzzled by the suggestion that one grandmother’s willingness to read these books to her grandchildren means that access should not be restricted to anyone.

But what is most puzzling of all to me are the letters from voters who have “always voted Conservative” but do not intend to now that the candidate is the leader of the party. What? They have the utmost respect for Damien Kurek, but apparently don’t respect his decision to step aside for his leader? Damien has made it very clear that the decision was entirely his, and also that he will continue to work tirelessly on our behalf with Pierre.

The suggestion that we would somehow be better served in Parliament by an independent candidate buried in the back benches than by the leader of the opposition capably supported on the home front by Damien is puzzling beyond belief.

And the efforts of the Long Ballot Committee to convince us we need electoral reform by inconveniencing and infuriating everyone? That is beyond puzzling. It borders on criminal.

Larry Lewsaw,
Camrose

August 5

I fail to understand those who aggressively defend the idea that the Children’s Library is doing the right thing by providing sexual images at carte blanche to kids without any warning to parents.
The absolute determination of those who want to ensure young children have direct access to images of sex is disturbing. You are not defending a healthy sex education. You are hindering it.

I honestly don’t even know what is being defended at this point. What I’ve heard so far is that we should not censor books for kids, which is false because kids’ books are censored all the time (i.e. racism), the books provided are age appropriate, also false, showing a seven-year-old how to masturbate is not age appropriate, and that the people who work at the library are great (which I’m sure is true, but has nothing to do with the issue).
Are there actually people who insist images of sexual penetration be placed where young children are? If so, yikes.

I might not be a doctor, a lawyer or a professor, but I do know garbage when I see it. A book showing a woman performing oral sex on a man and placing it on the shelf for a seven-year-old girl to pick up is garbage. I don’t need higher education to know that.

So, to the public, judge for yourself what you think is right. If this is moral and good, then by all means, introduce more of it. Why not include a fun book for kids to learn different sex positions?
But if you can see garbage for what it is, then don’t be afraid to speak up, write to the board, post on social media, call the MLA, do something to stop this nonsense that is being hidden behind the guise of “diversity”.

Jakob M. Weisser,
Camrose County

July 29

Make no mistake. A vote for anyone else besides Pierre Poilievre in the upcoming by-election is a vote for Mark Carney and the Liberals.

We have the opportunity to not only have the leader of the Conservative Party represent our riding, but also an Albertan who has always stood up for us regardless of who he speaks to or in what part of the country he is.

Pierre believes in a strong Alberta. I know he will defend our interests and our rural way of life. He will promote our oil and gas industry, defend our farmers and protect our right to own firearms.
It is unfortunate to see that some would try to exploit this by-election for their own personal gain. I can’t think of a bigger opportunist than Bonnie Critchley, who in a recent CBC interview even called herself a “palatable alternative.” A vote for Bonnie is a vote for the Liberals.

And to make things worse, in the same CBC interview, she called Battle River-Crowfoot a “backwater” riding. Shows you how much she thinks of us and this place.

I don’t want an opportunist representing me who is in it to make a name for herself. I want someone with a proven record of standing up for the West and fighting for all Canadians. And that, my friends, is Pierre Poilievre.

I’m proud of Damien Kurek for doing the honourable thing and stepping aside so Pierre could run here. I trust Damien’s words when he says, “Pierre Poilievre is a man of principal, character, and is the hardest working MP I have ever met. His energy, passion, and drive have grown our party and strengthened this movement beyond what we have ever seen before.”

Adrian P. Zinck,
Camrose

July 29

I encourage all Crowfoot constituents to reflect on voting traditionally. You have far better and local options. Poilievre is simply using your constituency as a stepping stone to advance himself. He knows nothing of your roots, needs and interests. Others do and they intend on living in your area to better understand, listen and serve your needs. Do not hire back a person who thousands of other Canadians fired. They know better now.

Nels Jevne,
Camrose

July 29

So let me get this straight: hardworking Canadian taxpayers will now be forced to pay over one million dollars so Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who just lost his seat in Ontario and who has not lived in Alberta for 25 years, can run in a by-election, which he is more or less guaranteed to win, just so he can keep getting paid $200,009 annually as a Member of Parliament.

Poilievre’s winning this by-election in Alberta, will also permit him and his family to continue living in an official stately government house (Stornoway), in Ottawa, which we, the Canadian taxpayers, are footing the bill for. It is also noteworthy that all of this comes on the heels of Poilievre spending decades whining about government spending. Unbelievable. So much for his ‘Axe the Tax’ mantra.

I would encourage everyone to vote for Bonnie Critchley instead. She is a rural, small town conservative, and a salt of the earth Albertan, who will tirelessly fight for us in Ottawa.

Please check out Bonnie’s website: www.bonniecritchleyindependent.com

Sheila Petroskey,
Camrose

July 29

To rebuild or double-down? This question plagues professional sports teams and also seems to fit with partisan politics. People feel a strong sense of loyalty to their team and their party of choice. Which makes sense, but does it hold up in broader context?

To use a hockey analogy: Poilievre had an open net and whiffed, sealing the UCP’s defeat and eliminating them from the playoffs. Now it’s the off-season and he’s desperate for a fresh contract.

This reminds me of the Oilers of my youth with Doug Weight and Ryan Smyth, who were talented and hardworking, but the team isn’t winning the Cup if either is your best player. The Oilers went with a rebuild that eventually landed them McDavid and Draisaitl, who were a few bounces away from being champions these past two seasons.

So, this raises the question: Is Poilievre a snake bitten wunderkind with the obvious potential to win it all? Or is he simply not “the guy”?

Tyler Sehn,
Camrose

July 29

Response to Jakob Weisser’s letter entitled “Children’s Library” in the July 15, 2025 edition of The Booster:

I was shocked to read that there are books in the children’s section of the Camrose Public Library that contain explicit sexual content (anal sex, masturbation). I appreciated this letter as I don’t know what percentage of the public is aware of this. I wasn’t aware, and I know many others who are not aware.

This is pertinent information for the public to know. Adults are able to use their discernment to decipher whether to open a book or not. Children have not yet developed this skill.

Summer Dhillon,
Camrose

July 22, 2025

It seems to me that this “wonderful” country that we live in jails the wrong people. We send grandmas to jail for supporting the rights of the unborn, we send pastors to jail for worshipping God, we send truckers to jail for “mischief” and the list goes on. I could make a long list of indiscriminate government decisions as well.
And speaking of  long lists, this Long Ballot Committee is one that should be jailed for real mischief in trying to ruin voting rights and privileges.

This new Canada is just plain tiring and going in the wrong direction. As a senior, I truly hope that for my children and grandchildren that the referendum is soon and that Albertans will realize that Canada is beyond repair and we need to think of their futures and become separate and sovereign. It may take hard work and maybe some short term  heartaches, but it will be worth it for the future and hope of our children.

George Shostak,
Camrose County

July 22, 2025

I’ve never been involved in federal politics before. Like many in our riding, I’ve always voted Conservative and trusted that our values were being represented in Ottawa. That trust was earned–especially by Damien Kurek, a local farmer and MP who understood our way of life. He lived here, worked here, and won over 82 per cent of the vote last April because he was one of us.

But now, things feel different.
Damien has stepped down, and Pierre Poilievre, who lost his seat in Ontario, has been parachuted into our riding for the upcoming August 18 by-election. He’s never lived here. He doesn’t know our land, our challenges, or our values. As Bonnie Critchley put it, “He doesn’t know Jack” about the people of Battle River-Crowfoot. Bonnie does.

She’s a 22-year military veteran, a farmer, and a local. She’s running as an independent–not to serve a party, but to serve the people. Bonnie inspired me to get involved because she’s grounded in the same conservative values I grew up with: hard work, personal responsibility, and community loyalty.

This isn’t about party politics. It’s about local representation. About choosing someone who knows what it means to haul water in winter, fix a broken fence, and fight for rural Alberta.
If you’re a conservative voter who feels this riding is being taken for granted, I urge you to take a closer look at Bonnie Critchley. She’s not here to play politics–she’s here to represent us.
Let’s send Ottawa a message: Battle River-Crowfoot is not for sale.

Terry Morley,
Camrose

July 22, 2025

Thank you for the Booster Banter!  I look forward to a good laugh every week!

Gordon Beer,
Alliance

July 22, 2025

After reading the back and forth of letter writers’ concerns about the availability of books depicting themes of human sexuality in the Camrose Public Library, I feel the need to point out a serious source of misinformation at the core of the initial letter writer’s claims.

In his various letters, Mr. Weisser has consistently raised concerns about his children accessing material he deemed sexually explicit while “freely roaming” the library as a justification for removing a list of books from the library shelves.

The worm at the core of this claim is Mr. Weisser’s straw man mischaracterization of how libraries function and the role that librarians play in managing their collections. He seems to portray library settings as some kind of anarchic place where children roam free like wild creatures, fully unsupervised in what materials they access.

Moreover, he completely erases and mischaracterizes the important work activities librarians engage in every day in researching, assembling and managing the various information collections they make available to the public.

In Mr. Weisser’s portrayal, he mentions very little, if any, discussions he held with the library over their collection practices and seems to imply that the people who work in libraries do not play any active role in managing or assisting children with the information they access. Because of this presumed lack of oversight, he demands parental control over library holdings.
As a parent who regularly visits our library and has taken advantage of the wonderful programs available there, I instead want to thank the staff at the Camrose Public Library who work diligently to make our library a safe space for children where they feel protected from victimization or bullying.

I also want to acknowledge the work they put into assembling their collections and let them know I trust their judgment, expertise, and hard work in making information and ideas available to the public. Libraries are an invaluable public resource that need to be celebrated, not attacked, diminished or dismantled to serve one particular political agenda.

Sean E. Moore,
Camrose

July 15, 2025

I am writing this letter in regards to our north side of the tracks. I am wondering what the City has planned for us. As our area is growing, we have 39 new homes going up on the north side, plus a new big apartment going up on 53 Street.

We have the steel plant, Camrose Airport, Whistle Stop, Braim Subdivision, churches, businesses and many dwellings close by and outside of our area.

The concern I have is what if we have a major fire, someone needs an ambulance right away, or need the police to come out for some reason in a hurry?
The concern is the long CP Rail line going by in which the trains have ALL the crossings tied up, so if we need help, nobody can help us as ALL the emergency personnel and equipment is on the south side.

So I’m just wondering what the City has planned for now and the future as we keep growing.

Margaret Sydora
Camrose
 

July 15, 2025

I liked Damien Kurek, and I think I am going to vote for Bonnie Critchley in this by-election.

Hear me out: the Liberal Party is three votes short of a majority right now. Historically they have negotiated with the NDP for those votes and not the Conservative Party. In this specific by-election, a Conservative vote changes nothing, but an Independent conservative can impact federal policy, forcing them to make compromises to get legislation passed. The NDP did this last time, and now it could be our turn.

I don’t know much about Bonnie aside from that she says she is local, she has conservative views, and will represent the will of us here in Battle River-Crowfoot. I think that combination is exactly what we need to make Alberta’s needs heard.

That said, feel free to look into her yourself. https://www.bonniecritchley independent.com/

Mark Warkentin
Camrose

July 15, 2025

I would like to respond to Margaret Weir Andreassen’s letter which was in response to my previous letters regarding the sexual content in our Children’s Library. I appreciate that she has responded as she is currently listed as a Camrose Library board member, allowing better insight from a decision maker.

Being that my past two letters have been specifically regarding the sexual content in our Children’s Library, discussions on books provided in the adult section of the Library would be irrelevant to my previous letters so I will assume she is referring specifically to the Children’s Library in her comments.

She says, “The freedom to read is a cornerstone of a strong democracy.”

I do not grant unhinged freedom for my children to read whatever they want. This would be true for books, magazines and the internet. They are children.

How is the freedom for my seven year old to read about anal sex and how to masturbate a cornerstone of a strong democracy?

My own right, however, to read what I choose and also to govern what my children read is a cornerstone of democracy. Let’s not confuse an adult’s right to choose what they consume to that of a child’s. “...Mr. Weisser, telling me what I, or others in our community, should read…”

I’m not sure what she is referring to here. This discussion is regarding what is socially appropriate to present to children in a public setting. Not about what adults choose to read or even what they allow their own children to read. Please do not imply that I said something that I never did.

“Our society will be diminished if we move down the path of censorship.”

No censorship for Children’s Libraries? Zero? This will diminish our society? Does this hold true with books promoting hate? Does this hold true with pornography? I would HOPE that there is some sort of censorship to what is read to children in the Public Library! Or any public setting for that matter!
I, “a vocal minority”, would appreciate some degree of censorship if I am to allow my children to roam freely in a public setting meant for kids!

I did very much appreciate one comment from Margaret’s letter that was on point and very applicable to this discussion.

“There are four copies of It’s Perfectly Normal in the regional system, including one in the Stettler adult non-fiction section."

Putting books with illustrated sexual intercourse in the adult section of the library instead of the kids. There’s a good idea.

Jakob Weisser
Camrose County

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