In the dead of winter, home maintenance isn’t really what you want to be thinking about. Much better to be cozied up with a good show and a glass of wine, right?

But home maintenance is also one of those things that you definitely don’t want to procrastinate. It’s so easy to keep saying “I’ll get to it next weekend.” But procrastinating can lead to emergencies, which tend to cost lots of cash to fix.

To avoid those expensive emergencies, make sure you’re doing your home maintenance on a regular basis. Here’s a few things to keep on your list:

• Clean and check the gutters before winter
• Check pipes and walls/ceilings for any leaks semiannually
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide monitors semiannually
• Clean your HVAC system and vents annually
• Clean drying vents annually
• Check electrical annually
• Take care of low hanging branches or suspect trees as soon as you notice them

I recommend creating a schedule for home maintenance and putting it in your calendar or planner. Some people like to spend a day taking care of everything while others want to spread it out so they have to do just one task per week. Either way, keep up on your home maintenance so you can relax and enjoy your home.

By Gerry LampowWednesday, Feb. 15th, 2023

“Lloydminster city council has gotten a full update on the proposed arena and events centre with a cost of some $102 million and discussion on Lloydminster Place will come back to council on Feb. 27.

At Monday’s Governance and Priorities Committee session, Mayor Gerald Aalbers noted that they are awaiting a determination on grant funds from both the federal as well as provincial governments with the Alberta budget expected to come down on Feb. 28, and the matter being slated for council on the day before.

From a budget of $2.16 million, the city has spent $1,812,057 as of Dec. 31, 2022. Those costs include architecture as well as geotechnical and materials testing. Another $100,000 has been approved to be spent this year on geotechnicals and materials. The budget has $247,943 left.

Given the economic picture, the range of options before council include whether to continue, stop the build or look at a scaled back version. Aalbers is asking the question about the reason people came to Lloydminster and he ties that into amenities like recreation, stores, raising a family, jobs and the quality of life.

“What would it take to draw a world class business to Lloydminster? And there are multiple pieces to that. We need available land, we need a workforce, but that workforce that may come with a major industry as an example, will want to look at the community and say,”Why would I want to move there?” Oh they’ve got top notch quality recreation facilities – cultural facilities.”

Aalbers says he hears these suggestions regularly from professionals in the area as the backdrop to attracting more talent in various disciplines. But also for people who work in other areas, he says the question on his mind is, “why would you move to Lloydminster and what we need to have as a community to draw those people and grow the city?” He feels that without growing, the city will go backwards.

Council documents detailed the scale of the project and councillors discussed the state of the ageing Centennial Civic Centre and the need to provide a replacement. As well they did not want to burden the taxpayers with repayment of loans over three decades at an interest rate of nearly five per cent.

The opportunity cost of whether to build now or delay, given that prices continue to inflate is a matter that is keeping the seven members of council awake at night, says Aalbers.

“I believe that if we are not building for the future, we are going to miss some things. Someone at one time or another took a risk of building Lloydminster where it is today and watched the city grow and it continues to grow. And we are optimistic that it is going to grow. And with that growth we need opportunities for people to do various things and recreation has become one of those things.”

Aalbers adds Lloydminster is the designated stop between Saskatoon and Edmonton and the city views itself as a regional centre. He concludes that Lloydminster Place, as proposed, is a place to gather.

Several options are still on the table ranging from building the events centre as proposed or scaling it back to either an events centre only, twin-arenas, or build the community arena as a shell and use the Archie Miller arena with upgrades.

Aalbers recognizes the challenges of the build even as he stays optimistic and looks to the future.”

The Quest for Excellence scholarship program is a cash scholarship that recognizes students for their ongoing community contributions and pursuit of leadership.

About the Award

RE/MAX Canada is pleased to expand the existing Quest for Excellence scholarship program in 2023, now offering 40 scholarships of $1,000 each to students across Canada (except for Quebec).

How to Enter:

To apply for the Quest for Excellence scholarship, eligible students are invited to write and submit an online essay* up to 1,250 words in length, answering one of the following questions:

1. What does a “bright future” look like for you?
2. How have you demonstrated leadership or charity within your community to make it a better place?
3. How can we ensure fair and affordable housing for all Canadians?

The essays are to be submitted online from, September 12, 2022 until March 13, 2023.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify, participants must be a Grade 12 student attending high school in the 2022/2023 academic year, who have not previously participated in graduation commencement ceremonies in the past.

Should you have any questions please email: questforexcellence@remax.ca. Do not email your essay, please enter above.

One entry per person.

RE/MAX Canada will review the essay submissions and award 40 scholarships, of $1,000 each, to qualifying Grade 12 students.

*All essay entries become the property of RE/MAX Canada. Photos and names of winners may be published in print or in digital formats and shared with media. Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated.

Community asked for input on future development of Bud Miller All Seasons Park.  

Lloydminster, AB/SK – The City of Lloydminster is launching its first phase of engagement for the Bud Miller All Seasons Park Master Plan. Starting January 30, 2023, residents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas on the future development of the community’s largest green space.

Bud Miller All Seasons Park is a beloved community asset that serves as a gathering place for residents of all ages. The master plan will guide the park’s development over the next 10 years, with the goal of creating a sustainable, accessible and inclusive space for the community to enjoy.

The City of Lloydminster is committed to engaging with the community throughout the master plan process and encourages all residents to participate in the digital engagement campaign. The feedback and ideas collected during the campaign will be used to inform the final master plan, which will be presented to City Council for approval.
The first engagement campaign runs Monday, January 30, to Tuesday, February 21, 2023, and includes a brief digital survey with an opportunity for respondents to provide comments or ask additional questions. The campaign will also include a virtual Question & Answer board, where residents can publicly ask more about the master plan and ask questions of the project team.

For more information on the Bud Miller All Seasons Park Master Plan and to participate in the digital engagement campaign, visit YourVoiceLloyd.ca/BudMiller. Those without access to a computer can obtain a paper copy of the survey at the Lloydminster Public Library (LloydMall), City Hall (4420 50 Avenue) or contact the City of Lloydminster at 780-875-6184, Ext. 2322. Paper copies are due by February 22, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.

“Bud Miller All Seasons Park serves as a symbol of the community’s collective aspirations for a healthy, sustainable and inclusive future. As such, it’s imperative that the master plan for this beloved community asset be developed through a robust and comprehensive community engagement process. I urge all residents to actively participate in this engagement campaign and lend their valuable insights and perspectives to the development of the park’s blueprint for the next decade.”
Mayor Gerald Aalbers