Year in Review: July- Blazers give back, ministers visit

U13 Blazers donate for accessibility in Lloyd

The winners of the Good Deeds Cup continue their good deeds over two years after winning the trophy.

The U13 2021/22 female Blazers hockey team has made a $90,000 donation to the Cenovus Energy Hub. The money comes from the team winning the 2022 Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup which awarded the team $100,000.

The Blazers took the initiative to investigate the accessibility features of nearby ice rinks and provided feedback to the City of Lloydminster. The money will be going towards inclusivity and accessibility at the Cenovus Energy Hub.

There are a number of upgrades to the facility including, barrier free spectator seating on the suite, concourse and ice levels, and an accessible warm viewing area, telescopic railings to be installed on the concourse level of both arenas, designed to accommodate standing and wheelchair viewing and shower stalls having floor to ceiling partition separation and a barrier free shower stall in each dressing room.

The Blazers are the first female team to have won the Good Deeds Cup. The team began its venture after discovering that a parent on the team who uses a wheelchair was unable to access the timekeeping area at a local arena.

“I did it for Maddi and her family, but I like that it ended up being for everyone,” said Lily Rousson, from the winning U13 female Blazers team.

“I learned the most when I tried getting around the arena with the wheelchairs and the walkers.”


Health Ministers meet in Lloyd

In what is being called a significant move towards strengthening health care collaborations, ministers from Alberta and Saskatchewan and their respective MLAs visited Lloydminster.

Saskatchewan’s Minister of Health, Everett Hindley was joined by Tim McLeod, Sask’s Minister of Mental Health and addictions along with Colleen Young, Lloydminster MLA.

From Alberta, Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Mental Health and Garth Rowswell, MLA for Vermillion-Lloydminster-Wainwright were in attendance. Mayor Gerald Aalbers and members of council were also in attendance to share their perspectives from the local level.

Aalbers thanked the ministers for their visit and their ongoing commitment to improving healthcare services in the region.

“Tuesday’s discussions are a testament to our shared dedication to enhancing the well-being of our residents and surrounding communities,” said Aalbers in a news release on Tuesday.

The tri-party meeting focused on critical health initiatives and strategies aimed at improving health services in the region. LaGrange says residents deserve high-quality, accessible health care services regardless of the provincial borders.

“We will continue to seek improvements to service delivery and access to information to support positive health outcomes,” LaGrange said.

The Lloydminster Hospital, which serves an area of roughly 180,000 people was a key talking point. Local officials are seeking an updated facility needs assessment and a long-term capital plan.

A review of the 2021 bi-provincial memorandum of understanding was at the top of the discussions including issues impeding the effectiveness of it in advancing local healthcare priorities.

These initiatives and plans aim to ensure local health-care infrastructure meetings the growing needs of the population.


Suspect arrested for theft of RV

RCMP say a suspect has been arrested after they stole an occupied RV and drove it towards an officer.

A member of the Lloydminster RCMP Crime Reduction unit was investigating a weapons complaint on June 29.

According to an RCMP press release, a foot chase ensued into the Weaver Park Campground where the suspect stole an occupied RV and drive it towards the RCMP officer. 

The officer then discharged his service pistol, the suspect collided with civilian vehicles while attempting to escape disabling the RV before being apprehended. 

“Police recognize the trust placed in them to use force that is necessary, proportional and reasonable, in an effort to provide the best protection to the public and to police officers in dangerous and dynamic situations,” said RCMP. 

The suspect was not injured. RCMP say several civilians were injured as a result of the collision as a result of the collision. The officer involved also sustained minor injuries according to RCMP. 

RCMP were directed by the director of law enforcement to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

Read more: STARS: Saving lives in Western Canada

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Meridian Source Staff
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