FortSask

Managing cash flow on a farm or ranching operation can be a real challenge.

As a result, many farmers use the Federal Government’s Cash Advance Program in the Spring to access cash and have more flexibility in their marketing plan.

Under the program, farmers can apply for a cash advance on over 50 commodities including everything from field crops to livestock, honey and organic production.

Producers can apply for the Federal Cash Advance Program through the Canadian Canola Growers Association.

Fort Saskatchewan may be getting an extra lane on Veterans Way (Highway 21) with a price tag of just under $5 million.

City council had the first reading of Bylaw C2-23, which would begin the first phase of widening the corridor on Veterans Way between Highway 15 and 101 Street.

"We've done traffic modelling and design studies over the years that show upgrades are required to the highway when we hit different stages of growth, and we're coming up to those trigger points," said Grant Schaffer with the City of Fort Saskatchewan.

Magician Wes Barker is bringing his unique brand of magic and hilarity to Fort Saskatchewan's Shell Theatre this weekend.

The show is set for Saturday (Feb. 25) at 7:30 p.m., presented by MIX 107.

Barker says he prefers bringing his show to a theatre stage.

"In a comedy club, I don't have a lot of space sometimes," Barker said. "On a theatre stage, I have more room, so I'm going to be thrashing around in a straitjacket, shooting my slingshot, and swallowing balloons."

A young girl trying to educate people on agriculture seems to have won her battle with YouTube.

"Learning About Ag With Mady" relates life on the family farm at Kindersley.

Ten-year-old Mady started her own YouTube channel last year in an effort to help educate people on where their food comes from.

"I recently had a video taken down by YouTube. As you know I participate in and share about farming practices on our farm always learning alongside an adult ensuring everyone's safety."

It's a big weekend for Strathcona County.

The county is hosting the 2023 Special Olympics Winter Games this weekend, with the opening ceremony at Millennium Place on Friday (Feb. 24) at 7 p.m.

Friday's lone sporting event is bowling, which starts at 2 p.m. at Sherwood Bowl. Day two of bowling starts at 7 a.m. on Saturday.

The games continue with curling at the Glen Allen Recreation Complex at 8 a.m. on Saturday before snowshoeing events are underway at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre just a half hour later.

During the trip 26 Canadian representatives met with more than 220 current and potential customers in Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Brian Innes, Executive Director with Soy Canada says there’s nothing like being face-to-face to share and understand how we deliver value for our customers.

"The enthusiasm we saw this year shows the value of our market development investment and how we can grow the value of our industry in the future."

Participants Soy Canada heard firsthand the quality specifications customers are looking for when purchasing soybeans.

A Morinville martial artist brought home bronze from the Canada Winter Games last weekend.

Although his journey into the sport began as a youngster, 16-year-old Dylan Weiss has been training hard for the national competition for about a year.

"I started with karate because I was interested in self-defense. The more I progressed, I just developed a love," Weiss said. "I've just been giving it my best until I found out fairly recently that I had made the team for the Winter Games."

Canada's Ambassador to Ukraine said she woke up with a sense of apprehension about what the day would bring, as the country marked the start of its second year of war since the Russian invasion. 

For most Ukrainians Larisa Galadza has spoken to, the anniversary of the invasion is not a day for reflection, as they're still living it day to day, she said. 

"There is no space for reflection," Galadza said, sitting in a boardroom in the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv on Friday.

"I find that for myself as well."

Richardson ground squirrels or gophers can be a major problem for farmers and ranchers.

The adults tend to emerge in early Spring as the temperature warms up and they are only above ground for about four months.

Saskatchewan's insect and vertebrate pest management specialist Dr. James Tansey says the males tend to appear two weeks before the females, and it's the adult females that you really want to target prior to the litters.

Pink Shirt Day was a huge success yet again this year.

On Wednesday (Feb. 22), The BGC Fort Saskatchewan crew took to the North Central Co-op Food Store for a special day to highlight the anti-bullying movement in our community. 

Dozens of children were in attendance for the event, which included cupcakes, a cheque presentation, and even a proclamation from Gale Katchur, mayor of Fort Saskatchewan.