I have always loved Christmas. As a child, I always looked forward to Santa visiting and to the smell of freshly baked cookies made with love by my momma. The aroma of cinnamon and spice enveloping your nostrils on a cold winter's day was enough to make your mouth water!
As I got older, Christmas was focused on the joy in my young children’s eyes as they excitedly tore into their presents and the smiles and appreciation when they realized Santa brought their favorite toy! We would always have a big turkey dinner with all the fixings including mouth-watering mountains of pillowy mashed potatoes! Oh, and the apple pie homemade straight out of the oven ...mmmmmm.
Christmas for me now is no longer filled with excitement and joy. It is a time of great stress and worries. Do I pay power or put food on the table? Do I put up a tree only to have no gifts under it or do I still decorate in the hopes of a miracle?
Unfortunately, my family’s struggles are the same struggles millions of families face this time of year. With so many people unemployed, taxes constantly on the rise and food costs ever rising, making ends meet seems to be a thing of the past. Even families with two working incomes are having to choose which bills they will pay and which will fall behind each and every month.
Yes, there are services for the needy, however, it has come to my attention that if you make more than $300 a month, many of these services you will not qualify for. 300 bucks...that can be the difference between social assistance and no help at all. Food banks are also a way to help with groceries in times of need however most local food banks provide food baskets with 3-4 days of food inside, however you may only receive a food basket every 14 days. So apparently 3-4 days of food better last you for two weeks.
If you live in a rural environment access to these services is even more limited as you also need transportation and fuel to get to the closest food bank which can be upwards of over an hour away from your home.
With so many people struggling where is one to turn for support? Suicide rates always skyrocket during the holidays as more and more fall into severe depression in the knowledge they can no longer live this way.
This world is no longer the world of the past, no longer a supportive community structure where neighbors help neighbors and the misfortunate receive the help they need. It has become one of greed and self-satisfaction with no regard to the homeless man on the corner. Someone else will help him right?
Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration of family, faith, and humanity however it has become a commercial product that is unattainable by many people. A time of great sorrow for millions of people around the world. No one should be forced to choose between food or heat in a country as developed as Canada, however, the poor are becoming the norm in our country and with the way the economy is going, no help seems to be in sight.
I ask that everyone take notice of the people surrounding them. Is there a co-worker who seems to wear the same pants every day? Is the person in front of you in line at the grocery store asking the clerk to put items back as they cannot afford it all? Are your neighbor’s children always playing with the same old, broken toys or wearing clothes that are a tad too small? Does your local store clerk seem irritated by the busyness of the season?
Perhaps all these people just need some help? Maybe a kind word, an anonymous donation of clothing? A basket of food? Not everyone can enjoy the holidays when the thought of losing their home or the knowledge their power will soon be cut off is all that is on their mind. Perhaps they lost someone close to them and they will be spending the holidays alone. We cannot assume to know everyone’s past or present so be kind, be honest, be giving.
Be the meaning of Christmas to someone who needs it most.
Written by: Bobbi-Lynne McGarry
Monday, 9 December 2019
Tuesday, 26 November 2019
Distracted Driving is not just Cell Phones
While driving, many people have taken advantage of drive-thru convenience at their favorite fast food joint to pick up a quick burger, fries and a drink. Happily munching away on their fries or sipping on their coffee as they navigate their way through traffic. However many people in Saskatchewan and other provinces are unaware that those actions also fall under driving without due care and attention according to the Traffic Safety Act and could land you with a very large fine, vehicle seizure and more.
According to SGI, distracted driving was a factor in more than 6,000 collisions and 22 deaths in Saskatchewan throughout 2018. Despite higher penalties, the numbers were not much better than in 2017 where there were 6,399 distracted driving-related crashes and 26 deaths.
SGI is hoping to reduce those numbers further by applying an even higher penalty for distracted driving starting on February 1st, 2020, which will start at $580 for a first offense; second offense within a year of being convicted of the first: $1,400 ticket, plus an additional four demerits, plus an immediate seven-day vehicle seizure (approx. cost $400); and third offense within a year of conviction of the first: $2,100 ticket, plus four more demerits and another seven-day vehicle seizure.
Distracted driving is not limited to cell phone use. There are 2 laws in Saskatchewan that address distracted driving: cell phone legislation and driving without due care legislation. Since 2010 it has been illegal to use, hold, view or manipulate a hand-held cellphone while driving, with the exception of police, fire, and emergency medical personnel to perform their duties. However it is not against the law to eat, put on lipstick, sip on your coffee and/or simply adjust the radio while driving, etc., but if your behavior takes your attention away from the road, and poses a risk to public safety, law enforcement may give you a ticket for driving without due care and attention. Even being distracted by your passengers so you are no longer paying attention to the road but rather the conversation in the vehicle, or adjusting your GPS, petting the dog in your lap, and yes even smoking can be considered distracted driving if you are not paying attention to the road and/or your surroundings.
Many people do these things every day while in their vehicle and would most likely be surprised to receive a ticket for any of the above mentioned however it only takes a second for situations to change dramatically on the road and it is your responsibility, as a driver, to always be prepared for any situation.
With passengers or without it is your responsibility to drive with the utmost care and attention. If you must add a distraction such as eating, pull over to a safe location and do not risk the lives of yourself, your passengers or others on the road.
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
According to SGI, distracted driving was a factor in more than 6,000 collisions and 22 deaths in Saskatchewan throughout 2018. Despite higher penalties, the numbers were not much better than in 2017 where there were 6,399 distracted driving-related crashes and 26 deaths.
SGI is hoping to reduce those numbers further by applying an even higher penalty for distracted driving starting on February 1st, 2020, which will start at $580 for a first offense; second offense within a year of being convicted of the first: $1,400 ticket, plus an additional four demerits, plus an immediate seven-day vehicle seizure (approx. cost $400); and third offense within a year of conviction of the first: $2,100 ticket, plus four more demerits and another seven-day vehicle seizure.
Distracted driving is not limited to cell phone use. There are 2 laws in Saskatchewan that address distracted driving: cell phone legislation and driving without due care legislation. Since 2010 it has been illegal to use, hold, view or manipulate a hand-held cellphone while driving, with the exception of police, fire, and emergency medical personnel to perform their duties. However it is not against the law to eat, put on lipstick, sip on your coffee and/or simply adjust the radio while driving, etc., but if your behavior takes your attention away from the road, and poses a risk to public safety, law enforcement may give you a ticket for driving without due care and attention. Even being distracted by your passengers so you are no longer paying attention to the road but rather the conversation in the vehicle, or adjusting your GPS, petting the dog in your lap, and yes even smoking can be considered distracted driving if you are not paying attention to the road and/or your surroundings.
Many people do these things every day while in their vehicle and would most likely be surprised to receive a ticket for any of the above mentioned however it only takes a second for situations to change dramatically on the road and it is your responsibility, as a driver, to always be prepared for any situation.
With passengers or without it is your responsibility to drive with the utmost care and attention. If you must add a distraction such as eating, pull over to a safe location and do not risk the lives of yourself, your passengers or others on the road.
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Fossil Fuels in Everything We Use
With the weather turning cold many Canadians are turning up their thermostats in order to heat their homes. In order to save on heating costs and protect the environment, many consumers choose to dress in layers, put on an extra sweater or blanket and install plastic over their windows. While choosing to stay inside more due to inclement weather we often turn to our computers, TV’s and cell phones for entertainment. Or some may choose to complete interior home renovations by adding a fresh coat of paint, install new plumbing and finally clean out the spare room that has become a junk collector. Many people also choose to jet off to sunnier, warmer destinations during the coldest months of the year to avoid the -40 temperatures.
What many Canadians do not realize is that every one of the above items and activities is made from, or uses petroleum products. We have come to think of oil as a product that is solely used in producing gasoline and diesel however everything from plastics to clothes and from cameras to toothpaste is made from petroleum totaling several thousand products used in everyday life.
With improvements to the electric car in recent years, more and more consumers are purchasing them instead of the regular gas-powered vehicle in order to cut down on CO2 emissions. According to SaskPower’s website, only 33.5% of our electricity in Saskatchewan comes from renewable resources such as wind and hydro. Meaning 66.5% of our electricity is provided by coal and natural gas. Therefore electric cars are still being powered by fossil fuels even if gas is not being put in the tank.
Fossil fuels are also used during the manufacturing of electric cars for batteries, upholstery, plastic wire coatings, stereo components, tires and so much more.
Electric cars, over the lifetime of the vehicle, do produce less CO2 than the average gas-powered vehicle however petroleum products and other fossil fuels are still a vital source in the production and running of all-electric vehicles and if there is not enough access to clean electricity such as wind, hydro and solar, than electric cars cannot make an impact on reducing CO2 emissions that they claim.
More items that we use daily and are unaware that they come from petroleum by-products are; Aspirin, Cd’s and DVD’s, Dentures, Paraffin Wax, Rugs, Dry Shampoos, and thousands more. So although we do have to reduce our impact on our planet, next time you snuggle under your fleece blanket, turn on your TV and grab your favorite bag of chips remember that all those items are made, at least in part, from fossil fuels and their by-products.
There would have to be major changes in our lifestyles and in all industries in order to make oil and its by-products obsolete, which will not be happening anytime in the near future. So in the meantime, plant a tree. Recycle, Reuse and Reduce.
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
What many Canadians do not realize is that every one of the above items and activities is made from, or uses petroleum products. We have come to think of oil as a product that is solely used in producing gasoline and diesel however everything from plastics to clothes and from cameras to toothpaste is made from petroleum totaling several thousand products used in everyday life.
With improvements to the electric car in recent years, more and more consumers are purchasing them instead of the regular gas-powered vehicle in order to cut down on CO2 emissions. According to SaskPower’s website, only 33.5% of our electricity in Saskatchewan comes from renewable resources such as wind and hydro. Meaning 66.5% of our electricity is provided by coal and natural gas. Therefore electric cars are still being powered by fossil fuels even if gas is not being put in the tank.
Fossil fuels are also used during the manufacturing of electric cars for batteries, upholstery, plastic wire coatings, stereo components, tires and so much more.
Electric cars, over the lifetime of the vehicle, do produce less CO2 than the average gas-powered vehicle however petroleum products and other fossil fuels are still a vital source in the production and running of all-electric vehicles and if there is not enough access to clean electricity such as wind, hydro and solar, than electric cars cannot make an impact on reducing CO2 emissions that they claim.
More items that we use daily and are unaware that they come from petroleum by-products are; Aspirin, Cd’s and DVD’s, Dentures, Paraffin Wax, Rugs, Dry Shampoos, and thousands more. So although we do have to reduce our impact on our planet, next time you snuggle under your fleece blanket, turn on your TV and grab your favorite bag of chips remember that all those items are made, at least in part, from fossil fuels and their by-products.
There would have to be major changes in our lifestyles and in all industries in order to make oil and its by-products obsolete, which will not be happening anytime in the near future. So in the meantime, plant a tree. Recycle, Reuse and Reduce.
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
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