Monday 28 October 2019

Hemp/CBD Store Opening in Strasbourg

With Cannabis becoming legal within Canada last year, there has been more conversation and research on the benefits of both Hemp and Cannabidiol (CBD).  Cannabis that contains very low amounts of THC, the ingredient responsible for the high or intoxicating feeling, in its flowers and leaves (less than 0.3%) is classified as hemp.  Hemp seed oil is made from the seeds of the plant only and CBD is made from the entire plant (except the seeds) and both contain less than 0.3% THC.

CBD is one of over 100 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids found in the cannabis or marijuana plant and has been shown to treat a number of ailments however, unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive.  For anyone looking for relief from many symptoms without the mind-altering effects of marijuana or certain pharmaceutical drugs, scientific research has shown CBD can help with pain, anxiety, and depression, cancer-related symptoms such as nausea and pain, and research has also shown it to reduce blood pressure, seizures and inflammation. 

Amy Rein, of Strasbourg, Saskatchewan, has opened an online store called Lux Hemp Farmacy, where she sells Hemp products such as clothing, beauty products, yoga mats, hemp-infused chocolate, etc. and also locally made jewelry that is made by Lumsden’s own DBL, and Southey’s Willow and Grey. “I love bringing positive vibes, and hope that my store & products can help make a lot of people happy,” Rein says.

Rein is currently in the process of receiving approval for her CBD manufacturing license which will allow her to broaden her supply to include products containing CBD which will include capsules, topical salves and creams, tinctures, and roll on oils.  “All my CBD products will be a full spectrum, meaning that not just one cannabinoid will be isolated, and all the cannabinoids produced by the plant will be left to be used, Rein says, “I use Hemp which means there is no THC (the ‘high’ feeling one would get from using marijuana), so there will never be an impairment.”

Although most orders are placed through her online store, pickup is also available at 101 Mountain Street in Strasbourg where you will also find many of her Hemp-based products.  Organic and natural are the keywords Rein uses to describe her products and everything from packaging and shipping to marketing and accounting is done solely by herself.  “I am looking forward to helping my community look, and feel great because everyone deserves to see how amazing they are!” says Rein.

With all the benefits of CBD and Hemp products now coming to light through research, Rein is excited to bring these products to her community and says that the town of Strasbourg and the RCMP have been most welcoming.  “That makes it easier to want to keep working hard to get where I need to be,” says Rein,” they are pleased to know that all the proper steps are being taken to ensure all Health Canada requirements are being met, and I am eager to get started!”

For more information please visit www.luxhempfarmacy.ca



Written by:  Bobbi - Lynne McGarry

Monday 21 October 2019

Hats for Hope

October has always been known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month; however another very worthy, yet less talked about cause is International Brain Tumour Awareness Week held from October 26th – November 2nd.  The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada was established in London, Ontario in 1982 by Steve Northey, who lost his eight-year-old daughter Kelly to a brain tumor, Dr. Rolando Del Maestro, a neurosurgeon, and Pamela Del Maestro, a neuroscience nurse, to help find the cause and cure while improving the quality of life of those affected.

According to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, the Brain Tumour Registry of Canada was launched in May 2019 to ensure that every brain tumor in Canada is counted. Until recently, Canada has relied on data from a number of American and Canadian data resources to guide Canadian research, raise awareness, secure government funding and provide support programs – data that is incomplete and not a true reflection of Canada’s brain tumor community.  “They are trying to get data from Saskatchewan and other provinces to provide a full picture of the numbers which we hope to have in 2020,” says Susan Marshall, the Chief Executive Officer of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, “Up until this point, we haven't had good data on brain tumors in our country.”

The data from this registry, with a report from four provinces, representing 70% of the Canadian population has shown an estimated 55000 Canadians are surviving with a brain tumor and 27 Canadians are diagnosed with a brain tumor every day.  There are over 120 different types of brain tumors, which can affect vision, hearing, memory, balance, and mobility, making effective treatment very complicated.

Many people view a brain tumor as a very rare form of cancer however they are the leading cause of solid cancer death in children under the age of 20, now surpassing acute lymphoblastic leukemia. They are the third leading cause of solid cancer death in young adults ages 20-39.  There is no cure. 

The Brain Tumour Foundation with support from donors, corporations and community foundations states the estimated 55,000 Canadians living with a brain tumor can find hope. One of their slogans is “Hope through research. Hope through patient and survivor support. Hope for a cure. '' In order to raise awareness and funds for research, they are hosting their second annual ‘Hats for Hope’ campaign on October 24th and encourage all Canadians to “Get their toque on!” by taking a selfie or group shot with their toque on, share it on social media using #HatsforHope and to tag @BrainTumourFDN so they can see your hats, add them to their site and share them on their social media channels.

You can wear your own toque or purchase a ‘Hats for Hope’ toque from their website at www.hatsforhopecanada.ca with all funds going towards research into brain tumors and supporting those currently living with this condition.



Written by:  Bobbi - Lynne McGarry

Visit Your Local Library Today!

Libraries are no longer just about book storage as some may believe.  They are the cornerstone of many small communities and have improved many services available through the use of technology.  Library cards within Saskatchewan are free to obtain and once you sign up, you have a world of knowledge at your fingertips!

In your local library and through its online system you will find access to more than four million books, CD's, DVD's (including new releases), e-books and other library materials; access to more than 60,000 audio and eBook downloaded right to your electronic device; and access to more than 400,000 downloadable audiobooks and other accessible formats for individuals with print disabilities, through the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS).

You will also find access to books and materials from out-of-province libraries through an interlibrary loan and access to multilingual services for individuals who speak other languages.  You can request to have materials from anywhere in the province delivered to your preferred library location, such as the branch closest to home or work, and return them to whichever library is most convenient when you’re finished with them making borrowing easy and convenient for all Saskatchewan residents.

The Saskatchewan Information and Library Services (SILS) Consortium, a not-for-profit corporation, was established in 2009 with the objective to provide equitable access to library services through one-card access to public library resources for citizens across the entire province.

The Consortium now serves over 300 branch libraries within Saskatchewan, helping everyone who holds a library card to access information no matter what their location may be.  With a one card system, you in Saskatchewan and with online access to so many items, the knowledge you can gain is plentiful!

Local libraries also offer several community programs such as summer reading programs for children, book readings by several authors, art programs, book clubs, and more so check your local library today for any events occurring in your neighborhood!

Libraries are essential for all communities as they provide free educational materials, supply free internet access for people looking for employment opportunities and other online research, and libraries preserve centuries of information, history, and truth by providing free access to educational, historical and news resources.  While they might have an extensive fiction section, libraries are still some of the greatest champions of truth.

Spark your imagination, learn something new, and enjoy community gathering by visiting your local branch today!



“Whatever came to mind, whatever came to hand, I would read,” Stephen King



Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry

Monday 7 October 2019

Anna's Vision - Featured on Essilor Canada Website

In Saskatchewan, children under the age of 18 are covered for one eye exam per year through regular Sask Health benefits, however, if your child requires glasses, this cost will have to be paid out of your pocket if you do not have supplementary health coverage.  According to the Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists school children aged 6 to 19 years should undergo an eye examination annually and preschool children should undergo at least one eye examination between the ages of 2 and 5 years.  Children’s eyesight can change rapidly and therefore the cost of buying and replacing glasses can quickly become out of reach for many families.

Anna’s Vision, a charity that provides full eye exams and eyewear (when needed) to homeless and underprivileged children, teens and young adults, was developed in 2010 in Calgary, Alberta by Optometrist Dr. Diana Monea.  In 2011 the program was extended to assist Mother Teresa Middle School in Regina, SK and to provide the same service to unwed mothers in school with the underlying principle that to learn you must see. 

Dr. Monea grew up in rural Saskatchewan and states that 80% of a child’s learning is through vision but unfortunately only 16% of Canadian children have their eyes examined annually.  “Many families, especially the working poor, cannot afford the cost involved in purchasing eyewear,” Dr. Monea says, “I believe every child deserves the chance to see!” 

‘Giving back and caring, making a difference when you can’ is Dr. Monea’s philosophy in her charity work and through her clinics with locations in Regina and Calgary.  She does not agree with bureaucratic red tape therefore children do not need a referral to take part in Anna’s Vision program.  “Children cannot wait through a backlog of paperwork in order to be able to see,” Dr. Monea explains, “I don’t want to have a child refused eye care when seeing is learning.”

Eye exams and frames are donated to underprivileged children by Dr. Monea’s clinics, Eye Health Centres, and lenses are provided by Essilor Canada.  “Essilor has teamed up with us to help children so every child, teen and young adult can receive excellent quality lenses!” says Dr. Monea.

With so many homeless and working poor in our province it is essential that a charity such as Anna’s Vision exists to help children and young adults get the eyewear they need to be able to function properly in school.  Anna’s Vision accepts monetary donations to help cover some of the costs associated with the frames so if you would like to donate or if you are a family in need, please contact Dr. Monea directly at dr.dmonea@gmail.com or see her advertisement in our business directory for more contact information.



Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry

Essilor Canada

Let Kids Be Witches and Ghouls

Halloween is by far my favorite holiday!  It could be because my birthday is the day before so every year while growing up my parties were always a costume party and everyone came dressed up as witches, vampires, ghosts and goblins and of course we bobbed for apples, played scary music and had tons of giggly laughs.

Today Halloween has been getting a bad rap.  People complain about everything from stereotypical costumes to it being a satanic holiday that shouldn’t be celebrated.  However, I have always thought of Halloween as just a time to dress up and be anything you want for one night a year.  As children we were never trying to offend a race or culture, we only wanted to be Pocahontas for a day as she inspired tons of little girls to be strong women after they watched Disney’s Pocahontas movie.  Or perhaps we wanted to be a scary zombie and drag our feet yelling “BRAINS”.

Halloween for children is a time to be silly and get a TON of candy.  As an 8-year-old child your goal is to make it to as many houses as possible to ensure your pillowcase was filled to the rim with chocolate, chips, licorice and bubble gum.  To dress up in your costume and head to school to see what all your friends are dressed as was a very exciting time!  Often the schools would host a haunted house or dance in the gym with bowls full of peeled grapes (eyeballs) and spaghetti (brains) to gross out all the children.

Somehow we as adults seem to have forgotten the fun we had on Halloween as children.  Now we restrict what can and cannot be worn to school to the point where most schools no longer even allow a costume.  No more giggly ghosts running through the school halls, no more costume dances and ghoulish fun, and no more imagination.

We are depriving a whole generation of children of expressing themselves for fear of once again offending someone.

Children love being someone or something different for Halloween and we as adults have to stop taking away everything fun in this world and let our children be who they want to be.  Kids are not trying to make a political statement by wearing a princess costume or by dressing as a witch.  They are just having fun!

Schools banning costumes on the basis that it scares younger children or that some just don’t celebrate the holiday is ridiculous.  By taking away Halloween celebrations other traditions will be on the chopping block next.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, and more will soon be a thing of the past.  Instead of banning any tradition why not add more to the list!  Chinese New Year!  Hanukkah! Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead).  There are so many wonderful traditions throughout the world why not include everyone!

We as adults need to back off and let our children be kids!  We need to allow them to dress up as monsters and fairies, allow their imaginations to run wild and enjoy Halloween!



Written by:  Bobbi - Lynne McGarry