That is the most surprising finding of a Bank of Montreal retirement study which tied the notion of how well couples communicate: comparing conversations about retirement planning to Valentine’s Day discussions.

They found that most couples have ‘talked’ about retirement but few have an actual plan. This is not an unusual story – it pops up in virtually every study on retirement. Like the weather, everybody talks about it but no one does anything about it.

The BMO study, did though, show that Valentines is a real stress generator for men. About 30 per cent of men had trouble with it compared to only 10 per cent of women but on the issue of retirement, the stress factor was far, far higher: more than 60 per cent for women and 50 per cent for men.

One tool that can make a big difference in couples’ planning is spousal RRSPs which allows for income splitting in the golden years but, it turns out, a quarter of the couples surveyed had not even heard of them.

* * *

This has been a great week for relations between Canada and China.

After a somewhat distant relationship at the highest levels in recent years, Prime Minister Harper`s mission to the PRC this week has led to the biggest improvement in Canada-Sino relations in more than a decade.

In a world where global trade agreements are all but dead, governments are increasingly being called upon to forge bilateral ties as the world goes country-to-country instead of relying on outfits like the World Trade Organization which simply cannot find common ground among a couple hundred nations.

Moving closer to China is a step towards reducing Canada`s reliance on the US as a market, something that is particularly noteworthy at a time when the Americans have just rejected a major Canadian pipeline investment.

For Saskatchewan, this is really a story of Canada catching up. China has long been one of our major customers for grain and fertilizer. Now Canada is seeing what Saskatchewan has always known – the Pacific Rim is an important economic region that is only going to grow in importance in the years ahead.

* * *

The long awaited census numbers confirm pretty much what we`ve known for a few years now: Saskatchewan has been on a growth binge.

But these official numbers provide some insights into which communities have been growing at a torrid pace, those that are doing well and the handful that actually backed up.

The over-riding assessment coming from the figures, though, is that much of the province has experience double digit expansion in the past five years. The bedroom communities around the major cities – especially those near Saskatoon – did particularly well. With Martensville and Warman seeing growth in the 50 per cent range. Those around Regina also grew at an above average pace but the change was not nearly as dramatic as those in the Saskatoon region.

Activity in the oil patch and the potash belt were responsible for many of the big changes. Weyburn grew at more than 11 per cent, Estevan at roughly 10; Humboldt at 13 and Lanigan at 15.

With Weyburn growing by more than 1,000 resident in the last five years for the first time we now have nine communities of more than 10,000.

PROSSER - Doris Prosser passed away peacefully at St. Paul’s Hospital on February 6 at the age of 90, with family by her side.

Doris was born in the Brightholme district south of Shellbrook on September 8, 1921 to Lawrence and Bertha Brough. She attended Mount Teviot School. In 1942 she married Francis Prosser and together they began farming in the Parkview district east of Shellbrook. In 1959 they moved to Shellbrook and shortly thereafter Doris went to work in the clothing department of Koppang’s store and received the “Clerk of the Year” award from the Town of Shellbrook in 1974. Mom was very involved in the community but was most proud of her work with the church and the Royal Purple. She joined the Royal Purple in 1969 and as a 43-year member she served as treasurer for 8 years, secretary for 5 years, Honored Royal Lady for 2 years, historian for 6 years, and as District Deputy of District 4 for 2 years. Mom was an active and faithful member of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church where she served many years on the vestry, acted as the People’s Warden and as the Minister’s Warden, and was made an honorary life member of the Vestry.

Doris is survived by her children: Elaine (Herman) Olexson, Wesley (Linda) Prosser, Sharon (Richard) Cockshott, Kenneth (Joanne) Prosser, her grandchildren, Cheryl, Dawn, Erin, Keith, Kenneth, Kimberley, Lisa, Sheri, and Todd; and six great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Elsie Prosser, nephews Dennis and Stan Prosser.

She was predeceased by her parents Clarence and Bertha Brough; an infant brother, her husband Francis, brothers-in-law Cyril and Desmond Prosser, and a sister-in-law Camilla Prosser

A funeral service was held February 10 at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church with Father Stephen Harnish officiating, with interment a the Shellbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements were entrusted to Martens Warman Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to St. Andrew’s Anglican Church or a charity of your choice.

MOVING ON UP -- Dylan Kvinlaug of the Shellbrook Bantam Elks tries to shovel the puck past the St. Brieux/Star City goaltender during their matchup February 13 in Shellbrook. The Elks wrapped up the series with a 12-3 win setting up a match with Humboldt in round three of the Pee Wee B Provincial bracket.

It’s often based on your occupation.

I was in Coronach following the leaders and wound up talking to a SaskPower plant worker during lunch _ a rare rural voter who was decidedly NDP. Sure, the memories of the 1998 lockout were still fresh in his mind, but so were the years of the Grant Devine administration that convinced him that it wasn’t in his interest to vote for the right-wing alternative Saskatchewan Party.

Broad-based support for the NDP in rural Saskatchewan has grown increasingly rare in the past 30 years. Since Devine’s 1982 election when he swept the entire province (including all but two urban seats in Regina) the NDP success in rural Saskatchewan has been sporadic at best. A rural foothold was briefly regain in 1991 Roy Romanow’s ousting of Devine, but the closure of 52 rural hospitals quickly changed that. Since then, the election of NDP rural MLAs has been few and far between, culminating with the 2011 vote when they were wiped out altogether.

And when you think about it from the standpoint of occupation, it makes even more sense. Rural Saskatchewan is dominated by large marketing farmers, oil workers, small implement manufacturers and other small businessmen and women. There is a still a lot of public sector employment with teachers, health care professionals, agricultural and highways services etc., but a critical mass of them (like at Coronach’s power plant) is unusual.

Talking to that Coronach voter in 2003 reminder me that work _ especially work in a unionized environment _ can have a big influence on how you vote.

Another couple of recent events fortified that notion.

The first was the annual Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention in Regina where Wall and his Sask. Party cabinet ministers received an incredibly easy ride from delegates at the annual bearpit session. There were the usual concerns about spending on infrastructure, doctor recruitment, taxation levels, etc.

However, what was truly surprising was how overwhelmingly supportive mayors and councillors were to the Wall government _ and not just the smaller town mayors. Given the Sask. Party’s near two-thirds overall popular vote in the election perhaps it wasn’t surprising to see such a positive response from city politicians as well. But those who have watched politics in this province for some time will know that SUMA has traditionally represented a pretty good cross-section of our politics. If so, something has changed and this province is no longer as divided on urban-rural lines as it once was.

But another recent event suggests that perhaps not everyone in the province loves the Wall government _ or at least, there’s one demographic where the Sask. Party still lacks support.

A recent decision by Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Dennis Ball (who was once the chair of the Labour Relations Board for the Devine government) that the province’s essential services legislation as unconstitutional was wildly cheered by the union movement. Simply put, Justice Ball’s ruling says that the Sask. Party law just goes too far in excluding people from the right to strike _ so far that it infringes on the freedoms of assembly guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

And what might have been most interesting is how well this decision seems to have been received among unionized workers _ especially public sector union members _ compared with everyone else.

It just goes to show that where you live isn’t necessarily always the most critical factor in your private vote. Sure, your family, friends and neighbours can influence you.

But what you do for a living may very well be the thing that’s most critical in determining how you cast your ballot.

At one time every farm was family operated, and while most remain influenced by a single family unit, the size and scale of farms have made many producers incorporate. They rely on hired staff, and a long list of off-farm expertise to operate.

In that respect they are not a lot different from most small businesses in any community in this country, with the possible exception that large scale farms now require a much larger financial investment than do many small businesses.

When it comes to the Canadian Prairies of course the relationship between farmers and small business is critical.

It is well understood in small rural communities that business does better when farmers do better.

The converse is also true. When the farm economy is impacted by low commodity prices they do not have the extra cash to spend in stores, and the ripple effect is pretty quickly felt.

So while living on the Prairies makes most keenly aware of the relationship, it is always good when that relationship gets some reinforcement.

We see that in the most recent edition of Sask Business Magazine, and its annual listing of the province’s most influential women.

Juanita Polegi, executive director of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce was one of the women making the 11th annual edition of the list. One of the reasons Polegi made the list according to the magazine was her agricultural interests.

“She has become a significant bridge between the business community in east-central Saskatchewan and one of its key commercial drivers — agriculture,” detailed the magazine article.

“She has been a driving force behind development of Yorkton’s first Canola Expo and the Crop Interpretive Centre being developed in the region’s largest city,” continued the article.

That Polegi was recognized largely because she recognizes how agriculture and business are supportive of each other, and thereby each is important to the other is a positive for farming.

It is important that the significance of agriculture is reinforced to business, to government and to the general public.

We must remember more and more voters are not directly connected to the farm, so they must be continually reminded of the importance of farming to continue to accept taxpayer dollars going to support the sector.

In Polegi’s case she said she comes by her dedication to agriculture honestly, having been born and raised on a farm, attaining a degree on the field, and eventually marrying and residing on a farm in the Jedburgh area.

“My passion has always been for agriculture. I’m a farm girl born and raised,” she said.

Polegi has lived farming all her life, but most Prairie people can no longer say that. So having her efforts recognized is a definite positive for farming, and that is good for business, and good for all of us.

It was an interesting, if predictable, choice of words.

Bankers have a bad rep these days, and let’s face it: No one likes an audit. Just ask Enron, AIG, Nortel or Conrad Black.

But if you receive $90 million over five years, as well as an additional $13 million, at least, in the form of trust monies, equipment and contracts from De Beers—whose Victor Diamond mine is near Attawapiskat—“bankers” are going to have some questions. No doubt they’ll also have questions for the four other native communities that declared states of emergency this week.

There’s no question there have been some significant and legitimate drains on Attawapiskat’s budget. For example, half the federal money that flows to the community reportedly goes to education. And because such communities are so isolated, infrastructure—such as road-building—is particularly costly.

But as we now know, that isn’t the end of the story.  First, there’s Chief Spence’s lavish travel budget and reportedly large home. How to explain the $2.3 million surplus in the band’s housing budget? Or the fact that, according to the Globe and Mail, Attawapiskat people had to “move out of 40-year-old homes,” when many Canadians live in 40-year-old homes? And why does the community have just one drinking tap, located at the water treatment plant near the palatial skating rink with its brand new Zamboni?

Why does Chief Spence still have her job?

It’s important to remember a lot of Attawapiskat citizens reportedly “smiled” when they heard a third party was finally going to manage their community’s financial affairs.

But a few words from Chief Spence about “Ottawa, the provincial government and De Beers reaping riches, while my people shiver in cold shacks,” and everyone pretty much backs off—even as reports continue to surface of widespread dissatisfaction in Attawapiskat over Spence’s leadership.

What’s at play here is the old narrative versus the new narrative when it comes to aboriginal affairs.

The old narrative is offered by the likes of Chief Spence, who’s now calling for the UN to intervene in Attawapiskat and, naturally, for more money.

Also “old narrative” are the words of former auditor general Sheila Fraser, who, on retiring last spring, shamed the federal government alone for its “failure to address the deplorable conditions on many First Nations reserves.”

Fraser failed to address the role many First Nations leaders play in allowing those “deplorable conditions” to develop. She also failed to address the widespread, non-partisan reports of gross financial mismanagement on many reserves across the country.

In contrast, a new narrative is being articulated by the likes of Whitecap Dakota First Nation chief Darcy Bear, who says transparency and accountability are precisely what’s helped fuel the success of his band.

Then there’s Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Peter Penashue, who believes in the power of individual First Nations to forge their own destinies—even to the point of saying it’s “aboriginal peoples’ choice if they’re poor.”

I’m sure Penashue—a native leader who was instrumental in highlighting the chronic social problems in Davis Inlet back in 1992—would agree it’s not the “choice” of the Attawapiskat mothers to let their children suffer from chronic, mould-related nosebleeds or use a bucket as a toilet.

But if these mothers, and First Nations generally, were liberated to make independent life choices, things could change. Some options the government should seriously consider: Private home ownership on reserves; guaranteed annual incomes paid directly to individuals, who could spend their money off-reserve on health and education; a voucher system administered by parents toward any school in the province they live in; direct band elections, the results of which could not, by law, be overturned—or the outright dismantling of the entire reserve system.

Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo said last week: “There are many Attawapiskats across this country. I think it’s the moment we need to grasp that major change is required.”

He’s right. And major change—in this case, bringing an end the ghettoization of First Nations people and their dependency on too-often-unscrupulous leaders—often starts with a dour, grey-suited “banker.”

bronwyn.eyre@sasktel.net

Shellbrook Public Library invites tenters for painting the interior of the Library.

P.O. Box 490

Shellbrook, SK S0J 2E0

105 Railway Avenue West

Phone (306) 747-3419

Email: shbrcirc@panet.pa.sk.ca

Sealed tenders will be received at the Shellbrook Public Library by February 29, 2012. Lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted.

Interested person may contact Librarian Alanna by phone at 747-3419 or during open hours at the library.   2-8C

MISCELLANEOUS

FOR SALE – Band sawn lumber, spruce 2×4 to 2×10 from 8 ft. to 20 ft.; 1×6, 1×8, 2nd cuts, and bull rails also  timbers from 4×4 to 12×12. Phone 306-469-2490, Big River. TFCH

AUTO

FOR SALE – 2002 Intrigue 3.5L, V6, Red, 4 dr., a/t/c, PW, PS, PD, P Seats, Command Start 182K, $5,500 Call 747-3965    2-8CH

RECREATION

FOR SALE – 1980 Kawasaki Invader, 440, L/C, new engine, $750 obo. Brad 1-306-468-2678 or 716-9080  2-7CH

MACHINERY

FOR SALE  – 1998 Bergen 16’ stock trailer. Ph: 747-3185      TFCH

MACHINERY WANTED – 25’ to 30’ tow behind packer. Also 5’ to 6’ rough cut mower. Call Ken 747-2363     1-7CH

LIVESTOCK

FOR SALE – Black and Red Angus bulls on moderate growing ration. Performance info available. Adrian, Brian or Elaine Edwards, Valleyhills Angus, Glaslyn, SK 342-4407      TFCH

FOR SALE – Johner Stock Farm bulls. Polled Herefords/Black Angus yearling and 2 year olds. Guaranteed, Delivered. David 306-893-2714, Justin 306-248-1305     20-26CH

PETS FOR SALE – Black Lab Cross puppies, $75.00 each, Black in color. 7 weeks old. 1-306-747-8104      2-7CH

HOUSE FOR SALE – Shellbrook Condo, 900 sq. foot, 2 bedroom, new paint, flooring, 4 appliances, heated garage, wheelchair accessible. $179,000 (less than real estate assessment). Phone 747-2112, cell 747-7834.          4-8CH

LAND

FOR SALE – Lots in Shellbrook, 702 Centennial Dr., Corner of Centennial Dr and 7th Ave. East. $21,000. Ph: 747-3504            2-7CH

FOR SALE – Farm land in the RM of Canwood SW15-51-05-w3. 162 acres. Phone after 6 p.m. 306-468-2665 ask for Judy.    4-7CH

FOR SALE OR RENT – NW-2-49-4-w3. Taking offers for either sale or rent until February 24, 2012. Highest or any offer not necessarily accepted. Purchase offers will be accompanied by a 10% deposit cheque. Unsuccessful bidders will have the cheques returned. Everybody will be notified by March 2, 2012 if they were the successful bidder or not. Bids can be mailed to Box 772, Shellbrook, SK. S0J 2E0.       4-8CH

FOR SALE OR RENT – RV lots for rent or purchase at Filion Lake Resort.  Unserviced lots @ $300 per month or $1000 per season.  Lot size 35’ x 40’

Lots for purchase starting @ $19,900. 60’ x 110’.  Call 306-921-7792 or www.filionlakeresort.com    6-10CH

FOR RENT – Pasture / crop land for lease.  Three quarters with water, 7 kms east of Mont Nebo, access off Hwy 3 or Range Road.  Vince 780-838-5633     1-7CH

FOR RENT – Rooms for rent on acreage 3 1/2 miles from Shellbrook. $350/month. Phone 306-747-3530.   3-7CH

PASTURE FOR RENT – 200 cow/calf pairs, 4 wire fence, cross fenced into 5 fields. Ph: 306-883-7868       4-10CH

HELP WANTED – Spiritwood Stockyards, part time seasonal jobs. Contact Brian 306-883-2168.        4-8CH

HELP WANTED – Shellbrook Motel now hiring housekeeping positions immediately. Call 306-747-2631 or drop in at Shellbrook Motel.         TFC

HELP WANTED – Spiritwood Stockyards, Janitor. Position is part time. Contact Brian at 306-883-2168          4-7CH

HELP WANTED – DNA/Integra Tire, Shellbrook seeking F/T front counter person. Also F/T mobile service truck operator. Experience in tire and automotive industry preferred. Mon.-Sat. Wages negotiable. Apply to email: decojade@sasktel.net  1-7C

WORK WANTED – Will do house keeping in Shellbrook, Leask and Marcelin area. $17/hr. Call 747-2877      3-9CH

SERVICES

Bookkeeping Service – Interested in doing some bookkeeping from my home in Spiritwood. I worked in a C.A. firm for 21 years in New Brunswick as a receptionist/bookkeeper. This would include posting daily transactions, bank reconciliations, GST, payroll and T4s. If interested, please call 883-2170       3-8CH

SERVICES – Let us inspect before you remodel, buy or build a new home. We check for heat loss, electrical problems, water damage and mold. Call today to avoid future problems. Biotherm Inspections, Stan, P.A. 306-961-6499            TFCH

AUCTIONS – Mid- Winter Classic Antique & Collectable Auction Sale Sun Feb 26th, 10:00AM. Coins sell @ 1:00pm. Delisle Town Hall, Delisle, Sk. bodnarusauctioneering.com 1-877-494-2437 PL318200SK.

COMING EVENTS – Shrove Tuesday Ham and Pancake Supper, Tuesday, February 21st, 2012. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Knox United Church, Shellbrook, SK $8.00/person, Under 6 years old free. Kaiser Tournament to follow at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome!

CARD OF THANKS

A special thanks to Francis and Thelma Bazley, the First Responders, Parkland Ambulance, Grace Buhler, Pastor Doug Schmirler, Rev. Dennis Serfas for good well wishes and prayers; also my daughter Debbie, relatives and friends for calls, visits, gifts, cards.

- Lil Sorensen.

The family  of Doris Prosser would like to thank everyone who in so many ways provided us with support in our time of need.  It meant so much to us knowing that your thoughts and prayers were with us in our loss.  With deepest appreciation.

- The Prosser family.

I would like to send out a huge thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate my 90th birthday.  Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to organize and put the party on for me; to everyone who took the time to come to the tea and family supper; for all the cards, phone calls, gifts, messages and kind words that were spoken; for the beautiful slide show; to Jack & Tilly for coming to Shellbrook to play music for the evening; and to my family for everything you guys did to make this such a special time!  Words can not express how happy and special you all made me feel!  God Bless each of you,  – Grace Colby

MEMORIAM

RASK – Sheldon Vern, July 18, 1961 – February 18, 2010. In loving memory of our beloved son and brother.

We think of you in silence

We often speak your name

But all we have are memories

And your picture in a frame.

Your resting place we visit

And put flowers with care

But no one knows the heartache

As we turn and leave you there.

We miss you very much; not a day goes by that we don’t think of you – your smile and laughter are with us forever.

- Always remembered Yvonne, Francis and Veryl.

Dr. Anatole Nguegno will be the sole resident physician in Shellbrook after that date and he plans to work hard to maintain the current level of service the clinic is providing.

“We are working hard to see how we can satisfy all the patients of the clinic,” said Nguegno.

He said that the clinic hours may be subject to change depending upon workload and patient volumes.

If he is finding that the current hours are not suitable they will be extended to accommodate more patients.

In the meantime, he also hopes that the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region is able to attract new physicians to the area to help serve the community.

One way he may be able to spread himself out further is the  soon to be implemented Electronic Medical Records system which he hopes will free up more of his time to spend with patients. Currently the files are a paper format which, he said slows down the process.

This will allow him and future physicians to dedicate more of their time to patient care.

“One of the things that wastes our time the most is the paper. Shifting to the  electronic medical records will allow us to focus our time on patients and not on files,” said Nguegno.

The system is expected to be put in place over the next two to three months.

All patient files will stay with Dr. Nguegno at the clinic unless otherwise specified by the patient.

The clinic will also continue to take new patients in spite of the doctor complement being cut in half.

In January, Dr. Alwyn Fourie announced that he would be leaving the practice to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine effective May 1, leaving Nguegno as the lone resident physician in the community.

The Shellbrook Primary Care Clinic will also continue to operate down the hall with coverage from a nurse practitioner and physicians out of Prince Albert.

He is also troubled by patients sometimes suffering through symptoms for weeks before making a doctor’s appointment because of the perception that doctors are too busy and they don’t have time for minor medical problems.

“We are in the community for (patients). When you wait too long it becomes a big problem,” said Nguegno, noting that a minor ailments can become a major medical complication if not treated in an appropriate period of time.

He encourages patients to seek treatment soon after symptoms present to try to avoid any type of complications.

Looking at the current situation, Nguegno doesn’t see any areas where the service his clinic provides will change.

Coverage of the Parkland Terrace Nursing Home is scheduled to continue while clinic days in Leask have already been scheduled for the period after Dr. Fourie leaves.

“There is not going to be any gaps or interruptions,” said Nguegno.

It is also his hope to eventually work in the hospital once more physicians are recruited to the area.

For truckers and bus drivers alike this has been a complete logistical nightmare. One local trucking firm said that it cost $400 more per trip every time they had to go through PA, which involved driving to Choiceland, around to Melfort and back to Prince Albert.

The situation would have been all the more maddening to a Prince Albert company doing business to the north of the city.

Once the dust settles from this crisis it may be time for the powers that be to have a look at adding another bridge going into the city, or at the very least around it. It has now become clear that only having one access to the city from the north is unacceptable.

This wasn’t a complete failure of the bridge but it could have been. If that cracked girder, which caused the weight restriction in the first place, had given way and taken a section of the bridge with it traveling the long way would have been the norm for every passenger vehicle for a very long time.

Throw in the possibility of a chemical spill or other disaster on the city’s only bridge and it seems very much like a powder keg waiting to explode.

A second bridge somewhere in the area would help alleviate traffic on the main bridge while perhaps helping to extend its useful life.

If this were just a small town or even entry level sized city located near other cities this would not be much of a concern but Prince Albert is the Gateway to the North. This isn’t simply some tagline drawn up by some marketing executive, it is a truth.

The community is the last city stop before the northern lakes and is a logistics and supply hub for industry in the north.

Eliminating or hindering traffic on the bridge makes those projects and industries a little less viable.

Another consideration of the last six months of rerouting big trucks is the toll that it has taken on the surrounding infrastructure.  In order to deliver their freight to customers loaded semi trucks have had to take routes that likely aren’t designed for the amount of truck traffic they have been facing since the weight restrictions went into place.

Those roads will likely require a little extra TLC this summer, adding to the overall cost of the bridge debacle.

All in all, the provincial government and City of Prince Albert need to come up with a plan for a second bridge for the city. At this point, it is irresponsible to not have one.

Shellbrook Kinsmen President Graham Fellner, right, presents Minor Sports treasurer Greg Muller with a cheque for $2,286.29, the net proceeds from the bar at the Puck ‘n’ Funny fund raiser February 4. While Minor Sports hosted and organized the event, the Kinsmen took on operating the bar with the intention of donating the net prceeds back to Minor Sports. Funds raised at the event are expected to be used to purchase new jersey sets for teams in the Shellbrook Minor Sports hockey system.