Rookie MLA Ken Hughes, perhaps best known for his role as Chair of the Alberta Health Services superboard, replaced the defeated Ted Morton in the province’s high-profile Energy portfolio.

Doug Horner retained his role as Treasury Board President, but also will be taking on the Finance portfolio.

“This restructuring is about achieving our goals and aligning our workforce with the priorities of this government,” Redford said.

“This new Cabinet structure allows us to focus on the things that matter most to Albertans – a strong fiscal framework, caring for our most vulnerable citizens, promoting our resources, and solid consultation processes that ensure Albertans are heard,” the Premier continued.

“We have a good mix of new and experienced MLAs. This is a team that is committed to the positive, constructive plan that we put forward during the election campaign that will help to build Albertans’ future,” she concluded.

Also significant is the role of Deputy Premier, to be carried out by former Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk. Breaking with tradition, he will not be responsible for a Ministry.

The new Cabinet represents a shift for residents of Fort Saskatchewan, who for the first time since 2004, will not have their MLA represented in Cabinet.

For example, the one who raised us, and although she might not have been there at the exact moment we were born, is still “Mom…”  The grandmother that raised us, who we chose to call mom…  Or, how about the neighbor lady, the piano teacher, the mother of your friend who taught you how to sew your first dress or cook a special traditional dish… were these not a certain kind of mom, too?

What about the lady who came into our lives as a young child or perhaps even in our teen years, who was a positive role model that left a lasting influence in our lives…are these not a certain kind of mom?  What about the mom that comes into our lives when we are adults, with adult children of our own, yet?  You know… the kind of mom, the one you may have met in a senior care facility, or the senior mom that lives in your neighborhood and just takes up the special place in your heart.  

I am often called Mom by many young folks here in the Fort. I take being called Mom by others as a compliment.

While I was doing my degree a few years ago, I was often called mom by many campus students, who enjoyed having me learning with them and being there for them in their own personal times of needs.
I believe that we all need the kindness and thoughtfulness of a mother figure throughout our life.

Like many others, my mother is no longer here, and I miss very much. My mother passed on just prior to me moving to the Fort.  But, I have found a few other moms here that I can have lunch with, receive a hug from, or share a good conversation with.

Perhaps they can never take the place of my own mother but I really do appreciate them for sharing some mom time with me. Mother’s Day is on the May 13th, and if like me, your mom is no longer here for you to share the day, do try to find that other special mom, to give a flower, a card, or maybe even take out for lunch.  

Mother’s Day is for all moms to be celebrated. Try to make a special effort  to be a significant part of Mother’s Day by being with a mother who does not have their children to share her day.

The restaurant relocated to their new location at the beginning of April, and continues to offer its stellar selection of breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert items, in a beautiful, home-like atmosphere. Currently open until 8pm Monday to Saturday, Aunty Sue’s also offers a daily dinner special.

Also present at Satruday’s event will be Puppets on a String, from the Robin Hood Association. Puppet shows will commence at 11am and 1pm. Half of the day’s proceeds will be donated to the Association, which recently opened its new Learning Center in the former Wicky Wack clothing store space on 99 Ave.

Cake and coffee will also be served at Saturday’s celebration.

Imagine the uses. Mothers would reach into their magic cupboard, and sprinkle it on children’s cuts and bruises, ending that obstreperous incessant hollering. Whining husbands lying in beds with sore backs would simple have her sprinkle some more – in all the right places. Childbirth would be such a glorious event. Mothers would recall the glory of the birth, not the intensity of the torture. Carmakers could line the edges of frames with it, so there would be no cursing upon the inadvertent slam of the car door on unsuspecting kid or hubby’s pinky fingers.

But the potion’s absolute specialty would be it ability to do its magic on emotions. No more sore feelings about badly timed words, miscommunications, jealousy, or overly sarcastic wit injections. All those long held unwholesome grudges would simply vanish. When dreaded bills arrive, one rejoices!

When the favorite team loses, it’s just hunky-dory nobody cares time. When Pretty Woman at the club goes home with buddy Matt, it’s yahoo for Matt. Sulk disappears from the dictionary, along with his pals Mope and Brood. Now that would make history.

“The City of Fort Saskatchewan’s response rate to the online census is already over 22 percent”, said Corey Halford of Online Census. Online Census is a hosted solution created by the City of Airdrie who has been using it since 2007. 

Residents have until June 1 to use their PIN numbers and complete the census online at www.fortsask.ca. Enumerators will still visit households that do not complete the online census, but not before May 21.

“Census information is very important to municipalities as it is used to maximize grants from both the federal and provincial governments,” explained Vivienne MacIntyre, Director of Legislative Services for the City of Fort Saskatchewan. “The more residents we can get to complete the census online, the more cost effective it is,” she continued.

Fort Saskatchewan Life Church Pastor, Bill Olsen

John Maxwell, a well known motivational speaker said, “People who have become successful, got there because they took risks.” Obviously, some risks don’t return favorable fruit, while others do… that makes taking risks, worthwhile. Now, I’ve done a few risky things that I wouldn’t recommend doing, but others have worked out fairly well. Both make for good stories… but survival is the key to making them great stories. Now people, don’t try this at home… I’m a Professional. (Not really, but it sounds good.)

For example… You should never try passing a car on icy roads while doing 80- 90 miles per hour… there is nothing that gets your heart going faster than sliding sideways at this speed while exchanging looks of horror with the other driver who’s looking back at you, and you’re both thinking, “I shouldn’t have done this.” He managed to get ahead of me, while I proceeded to leave the highway, backward, clearing one of BC’s famous ditches, into a substantial snow bank that spun me back around in the right direction, allowing me to put my foot back into the accelerator which in turn propelled my car back through said ditch, and on to the highway again.

After all this commotion, all that was left was the rotten smell of my rather crowded pants, and the thought that I just cheated death… This, my friends, is not the kind of risk thou shalt take!
Risks that are good, are the ones where you’ve calculated carefully, all the possible outcomes, and you’re willing to accept them. These can be life changing, and powerful moments. What helps even more, is that these risks are worth taking if they propel you toward your destiny, or calling in life.

One risk I took, was to send out demos of songs I had written, to Record companies in order to land a record deal… This was one of the most nerve-wracking times in my life, as those demos represented all of my hopes and dreams, and if no one liked my music… everything I hoped for was finished, and I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I had worked on my craft for many years and had good response, so it was time to take the next step. If I hadn’t, I would never have known if I could reach the “mark.”

I did have a few come back that showed no interest, but finally, I received two phone calls from well known producers, who loved a couple of my songs. Within a year, I was able to record with some of Canada’s best musicians, and my professional music career began. The rest is another story for another time, but the fact is, the sense of purpose was fulfilled through taking some risks.

I believe that God has built something into the DNA of each one of us that needs to be fulfilled and seen by the world. But sometimes, it takes a little risk to begin the process. I would encourage you, to step past whatever fear you might have, and give it a try, you won’t know what will work unless you do. If you fail, find out what you’ve learned, make adjustments, or hone your skills a little more, and try again… every successful person has had failures that became their lessons, which in turn propelled them to where they are now…

Have a great week trying stuff!

“This weekend’s blitz highlights the role enforcement plays in helping Albertans to travel safely,” said James Stiles, Deputy Director, Sheriff Traffic Operations North for Solicitor General. “We will continue to enforce traffic safety onhighway 63, as well as throughout the province.”

Traffic officers spent approximately 600 hours between May 3 and May 6, patrolling Highway 63 between Redwater and Fort McMurray. 663 charges were laid, including 552 for speeding and 95 hazardous violations including dangerous driving.

Officials note that in addition to reviewing plans for future traffic enforcement blitzes, an aggressive timeline for completing the twinning Highway 63 is also a priority.

“We’re calling for an end to gestation stalls for sows and to significantly increase the use of alternative housing systems for hens. We believe there are better, more humane and sustainable housing systems that can improve the quality of animals’ lives. Striking a balanced, realistic solution for the farming community, which will need to make significant investments in new buildings, is also essential, and we fully recognize this will take time,” said Paul House, president and CEO, and executive chairman, Tim Hortons Inc.

The Shop Fort First Loyalty Card program means Fort Saskatchewan residents can obtain a free loyalty card to access a 10 percent or more discount on designated items or services at 32 Fort Saskatchewan businesses. These include OEP advertisers European Touch Massage & Wellness, Lube-X, Real Storage, The Retreat Salon & Spa, Yardworks Lawn Maintenance and Blue Rooster advertiser Snap Fitness.

“We want to see more Fort residents change their purchasing habits and start to focus on buying local first,” Pearson said. “With the boom in our commercial areas over the past decade, many residents aren’t even aware of everything that is available here and continue to spend their dollars outside Fort Saskatchewan. This impacts the ability of our businesses to grow, provide more jobs and donate even more to local sports and non-profit groups.”

The Loyalty Card is available via the web at www.shopfortfirst.ca. Alternatively, cards can be picked up at the Dow Centre, Harbour Pool, or Chamber of Commerce during business hours.

Proposals include a salary of $134,000 for MLAs with no additional compensation for serving on committees; a $200 stipend per meeting for Committee Chairs; maintaining the tax-free allowance; and discontinuing the current transition allowance. The recommendations of the Report could be debated in the Assembly, and if approved, may be implemented.