Oyen News Briefs, Apr. 16, 2021
By Diana Walker
Canadian flags around Oyen are flying at half staff honouring the life of Prince Philip, 99, who died April 9, 2021. He and Queen Elizabeth had made more than 70 appearances in Canada between 1950 and 2013. Prince Philip’s last visit to Canada was a short one in 2013—without his wife, the Queen—to present a ceremonial flag to the Royal Canadian Regiment’s 3rd Battalion. While here, he picked up the insignias he had been awarded as companion of the Order of Canada and commander of the Order of Military Merit from then Canada’s governor-general David Johnston.
There are three tiers to the Order of Canada—member, Officer and Companion. Former Oyen resident Stan Dragland (featured in the April 6 Echo) was awarded the first level, Prince Philip the third. What an honour to be in that kind of company!
“Being in Stan’s house, writing in his basement with his wife, a publisher, working upstairs, I had a fair idea how hard Stan worked,” says Bernie Krewski in an email to me referring to his and Pat’s trip to St John’s in 2012 to visit Stan and his wife.
“Philip’s work involved travelling through Canada—important but work of a much different kind,” he says.
I received an email from Canada Post saying 22 Medicine Hat and one Strathmore Oyen Echo subscribers did not receive their March 15 issue because of the lack of a street number on the labels. Further investigation will commence. Two of the Medicine Hat subscribers I reached out said they did not receive March 1 or 8 either however, Canada Post did not explain that. Please let us know if you do not receive issues.
Great news announced on the front page of the Consort Enterprise March 31—Emergency Department Reopening at Consort Hospital, admission to community support beds at Consort also resumed (effective March 29). Hours of operation within the department will return to pre-closure levels.
Patients not requiring emergency care will continue to be directed to contact a physician’s clinic to book an appointment.
These changes not only helped create acute care capacity at other sites that have been able to transfer patients to Consort, but further reduced the risk of potential illness spread between patient populations by creating a single patient group at the site. Not having COVID-19 positive patients under the same roof as continuing care residents has limited exposure and potential illness spread to seniors, who remain most vulnerable to COVID-19.
The Emergency Department was temporarily closed last spring as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Interesting story in ECA Review April 1, page 7, by Terri Huxley re Youngstown Greenhouse School of Excellence shows promise.
“A multitude of ideas were introduced to trustees including micro-businesses (selling flowers and vegetables for example), hydroponics, aquaponics, horticulture, solar power, soil testing, beekeeping, tree campaigns, composting, partnerships with local experts including CARA research in Oyen, and creating a local curriculum specifically for the greenhouse.”
Classes could include students from around the world.
“A full business plan will be introduced at the trustees’ next meeting.”
Congratulations to new parents Drew Kuhn and Samantha Callin of Oyen on the arrival of their son Archer Andrew March 9 at Stettler Hospital, weighing 7 pounds 10 ounces. Congratulations also to first-time grandparents Pat and Alice Kuhn of Oyen, Tanis Graham and Darcy West of Hanna, Tim and Sandy Callin of Stettler, and Great-Grandma Linda Miller of Hanna.
Condolences to the McFadyen and Smale families on the death of Grace McFadyen in the Oyen extended care April 14, just one month shy of her 102 birthday.
I need help
NOTE: I have had positive feedback from readers about Oyen Briefs, but I need your help!
If you have club or personal news you would allow me to include in this column please email fwalker1@telus.net. Especially during COVID shut-ins tell me they look forward to reading history in the making between the Echo pages, but we can’t be everywhere, and some of us do not frequent flyers on Facebook.