Moment with the Mayor

The challenge of bullying has faced society since the beginning of time, and it exists in all corners of the world. From family issues to world leaders flexing their military or police muscles on others in their own country or around the world.

Many welcome the recent rainfall. Farmers and ranchers appreciate the moisture to grow grass and seeds. In an urban setting, lawns are starting to green up, and flowers and gardens are itching to be planted and tilled. We hope the new grass growth will lessen the fire hazard, and outdoor enthusiasts hope to see the removal of fire bans or restrictions.

The threat of activity aimed at each one of us continues to grow each day. The good old days, when a “handshake” was all you needed, have changed dramatically. A handshake is a very important step in the process for many of us, but at the end of the day, please ensure that you are guarding yourself and your personal information.

That time of year has arrived in Lloydminster when we start to see what winter and snow have been hiding since January.  We start to see litter and garbage, broken branches and leaves, trash and other debris that was hidden by the clean white that snow is.  As a community, we have the opportunity to join in and work together as a family, friends, neighbours, co-workers or even as individuals to clean up and get everything ready to turn green.  The Pitch-In campaign has been running for 57 years and we can all participate.

The weather is changing, and we’re all out doing more yard work. As we pick up the trash that has blown around our yards and neighbourhoods, you may find that the green bin fills easily. The green compost bin is a great tool to reduce the amount of material going to our landfill. It’s your space for organic material such as grass clippings, leaves and food waste in certified compostable bags. Tree branches can be included in the if they fit completely in the bin.

Our community has a long list of people, groups, organizations and businesses who have contributed to making Lloydminster what it is today. Everywhere you look in our community, you can see first-hand the results of countless hours of planning, fundraising and building. Many of these amenities started as an idea or drawing on a napkin and then progressed to finished projects, some even through detailed design work by engineers and architects.

This past week was very busy with engagement opportunities with the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments. 

Alberta Health Services hosted a meeting with community members to seek input into the delivery of health care services. The meeting was attended by local individuals and representatives from Bonnyville, Wainwright, Vermilion and Kitscoty, to name just a few of the communities represented. Garth Roswell and Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange spoke to the audience. Many great ideas and issues were raised, especially regarding health care delivery in our border community. 

The weather outside provides us with both excitement and concern at this time of the year. Safety is at the top of the list for all of us as we experience the ever-changing seasons and conditions throughout the city. The recent warmer temperatures has the recent spring storm starting to melt as city crews and contractors work to remove the snow so repairing of the asphalt can begin. 

Agriculture means many different things to everyone. We recently celebrated National Agriculture Day across Canada. Everyone has a different level of exposure to agriculture and the meaning of what agriculture is, and our experiences will differ between us.