News
Yesterday my sister was brutally assaulted by two women
This is posted with permission from Nicole Safron. Her sister survived a terrifying experience at their home near Sylvan Lake this week.
Following Nicole’s post is the RCMP report to the media on the alleged crime(s)
Yesterday my sister was brutally assaulted by two women
These women had been dropped off in front of her garage with a blue bag by a green ford truck. My sister who was upstairs in her home with her daughter and newborn baby looked out the window to see the girls jump out of the vehicle and the truck take off through her fence across the canola field.
She immediately called her husband and then a neighbor who is about a mile and a half away who could be there as soon as possible. JUST a week prior to this, a man walked into her home in broad daylight asking where Evergreen hall was, and later arrested (and is known to police) so she was taking it seriously. She got off the phone with her husband who called 911 for her at 8:44 am to dispatch police to her. She then activated her alarm system which has a loud outdoor siren to hopefully scare them away. The pair fled on foot towards the road. My sister, left her kids upstairs in the house (thankfully) locked the house and followed the girls to the end of the driveway in her car, while on the phone with my dad, to ensure she knew where the girls were. The neighbor got there at the same time and the girls were laying in the grass with the blue bag.
Meanwhile the green truck was speeding across the fields towards my other sisters home going through the fences. So the neighbor decided it would be good to make sure she was ok as well. She was still on the phone with my dad in her SUV when the girls attacked her punching her in the face and ripping her out of her vehicle. with my dad helpless on the other line.
The girls were kicking and punching her and telling her they were going to shoot her in the face. My sister was pleading for her life telling them she has a newborn baby and children and to take her car. My sister was fighting for her life in a ditch in rural Alberta wile my dad listened on the phone knowing anything could happen to his daughter.
The girls then got into my sisters vehicle and tore off towards highway 11, erratically driving down the wrong side of the highway at 160 km/hr + into oncoming traffic.
Meanwhile the truck that had crashed through the fences had caught fire behind my other sisters home after driving about 3/4 of a mile through fences and crop. The men in the truck had fled on foot. One of them stealing a vehicle from the neighbors down the road.
It was not until aprox 9:37am when the first police showed up out there.
My sister who was attacked did not see an officer until after 10:00am.
The reason I am writing this out in detail is to bring awareness to the crisis that we are facing in central Alberta with crime and drug related issues and thefts. Rurally it takes oficers time to get to victims. There are no other houses and rarely are others home. It is a hopeless feeling and people are scared to be home.
This is beyond petty theft. This is peoples lives and families at risk. You better believe what both my sister and my dad experienced yesterday will stick with them for years to come.
There is a meeting on Thursday November 7th from 6pm to 8pm in Rocky mountain house at the Lou Soppit centre with Doug Schweitzer, the minister of justice. I would encourage anyone who can to attend, in addition to writing a letter to your MLA. Honorable Jason Nixon has been outstanding with this situation contacting the family shortly after the events to discuss.
Lets send him the tools he needs to make a change. We need these drug houses wiped out. In ALL of ALBERTA. Central and rural Alberta is getting scary. These people need to be locked up. Both of these women had been arrested before and are known to police. They get released in a few days and have nothing to loose. I feel sorry for our police forces when they try and help us and the criminals are released within days!
They are dangerous.
I know I am speculating / putting the puzzle pieces together, however, those women had the intent of an armed robbery at my sisters home that morning. Armed and planned. Perhaps another vehicle would come and pick them up or they would meet the ford in the field.
But what I do know is that I am thankful Jolene was able to keep them away from her home, and her children did not have to witness anything.
You better believe they would have got into her home in the hour it took police to arrive. Or that our neighbor or my father would be in the wrong for trying to protect her.
And it may have been a different story entirely.
From Sylvan Lake RCMP:
The RCMP have laid charges against two females following several incidents that began with a complaint of suspicious females in Sylvan Lake and finished with a collision in Red Deer.
On October 23 at 8:48 a.m., Sylvan Lake RCMP responded to a rural complaint, that two females, believed to be intoxicated, were in a ditch. They were allegedly dropped off by a male driving a truck and that truck had driven through a fence. Property representatives in the area were taking steps to identify and detain the females. The truck, later identified as a 1997 Ford F150, was abandoned in a nearby field, on fire. Eckville Fire department attended and assisted with extinguishing the vehicle fire.
Sylvan Lake RCMP received a further update that one female property representative had been assaulted and had her vehicle, a Dodge Durango, stolen. RCMP Police dog services, Rocky Mountain House RCMP, and RCMP air services were deployed to the location to assist.
A short time later the Dodge Durango was observed travelling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Highway 11. The vehicle entered Red Deer. (see background media release).
Sylvan Lake RCMP later recovered the Ford F150, which had been stolen out of the Rocky Mountain house area. Two prohibited firearms were located, abandoned, in the area.
A second vehicle, a 2007 grey Chevrolet Silverado was stolen from a nearby residence and remains outstanding. The RCMP believe that the male who dropped off the suspect females stole the Silverado from an area property.
Sylvan Lake RCMP have charged Chelsea Crowley (27) and Brianna Crookedlegs (20) with the following offences:
– 2 counts of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
– 2 counts of Possession of a weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
– 2 counts of Possession of Weapon without holding a licence
– 2 counts of Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm
– 1 count of Robbery
Crowley faces an additional five counts of Breach of Recognizance. Both females are scheduled for a Judicial Interim Release hearing on October 28.
Investigation into the circumstances of the recovered Ford F150 and the theft of the 2007 grey Chevrolet Silverado continues. The Silverado is described as grey, with black rims, a small push bar on the front and small dents.
If you have any information about these incidents, or information on the location of the stolen Chevrolet Silverado please contact the Sylvan Lake RCMP at 403-858-7200. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
Why Canadians Should Care About Land Loss
Developments are increasingly taking over Canadian farmland. Farms once took up much of Canadian land. However, that case is not true today. Only about 5% of Canada’s land is considered prime farmland. This prime land borders one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions, and once suburban development overtakes it, Canadian farmers will have a challenging time providing food for the cities.
Farmers in Canada make their livelihood by planting, growing, harvesting and distributing food to the Canadian populations. Without land, both farmers and the rest of those living in Canada will not get fresh, Canadian grown produce.
Here are some reasons why Canadian farmers should care about land loss:
- Farmland Provides Food
While this is an apparent reason, it’s an essential one. Prime farmland in Canada produces food for major Canadian cities. As farmers continue to lose land, they have to rely on a smaller acreage to make the same amount of food — if not more — for the growing population.
Over the past 10 years, almost 1 million hectares of agricultural land has diminished due to development and growing populations. Agriculture continues to adapt to land loss. However, further technological advancements must first take place to grow enough produce vertically rather than horizontally.
- Land Preservation Will Help the Economy
Farmland preservations come with a wealth of economic benefits. Agriculture contributes to the economy through the following ways:
- Sales: For the economy to survive, there needs to be consumer demands and sales. Almost everyone purchases produce, so there will always be a demand for those goods. Without land to grow agricultural products, no sales will be made, and the economy could suffer.
- Job opportunities: Less than 2% of Canada’s population works in the agriculture industry. While it’s not much, that’s still over 750,000 people. Preserving farmland shows a commitment to the industry. Land loss would create job loss. However, maintaining the farmland — and even reclaiming it, along with pastures — could boost the sector and, therefore, the economy. It would provide unemployed people with job security.
- Secondary markets: Farmers are just one part of the food business. Because of farmers and farmland, secondary markets can thrive. These would include processing businesses, restaurants, schools, grocery stores and even waste management companies.
Canadian farmers should care about land loss because standing back and allowing companies to overtake the farmland could seriously affect the economy.
- Farmland Benefits the Environment
Wildlife often depends upon farmland for both food and habitat. Various types of farmland create diverse habitats for many different species. Without land protection, these habitats and food sources would be destroyed, leaving many animals without a place to survive. Many would have difficulty finding a native habitat.
Additionally, growing crops helps eliminate some of the carbon dioxide released into the air. Air pollution could decrease for Canadian cities as long as no more farmland is used for development.
One major problem occurring with Canadian farmland is desertification. This happens when the soil loses nutrients and becomes barren. The urbanization of Canadian farmland is the primary contributor to desertification, which speeds up climate change and harms the environment. Keeping farmland as-is will slow down climate change.
- Land Loss Affects Farmers’ Jobs
Perhaps the main reason why Canadian farmers should care about land loss is because their livelihood could be taken away. If they don’t have the means to keep up with technological advancements in the agricultural industry, they will not be able to continue their jobs if they experience land loss.
Agriculture is an essential industry. Not everyone can pick up the skills needed to grow their own food, and so many people depend upon farmers for nutrition and goods.
Take a Stand to Preserve Farmland
Farmland is a worthwhile and precious resource for many people. Reduction in farmland acreage will hurt Canadian farmers and the rest of the population, the economy and the environment. Taking steps to prevent more land loss can slow the rates of destruction and keep natural habitats thriving for both humans and animalls.
Click here read more stories by Emily Folk.
I’m Emily Folk, and I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. Growing up I had a love of animals, and after countless marathons of watching Animal Planet documentaries, I developed a passion for ecology and conservation.
Is the Meat Industry Equipped to Handle a Pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted industries across the world. One of the main sectors that’s concerning experts is the meat and agriculture industry. This concern intensifies in Western Canada since much of the land there is farmland. The imbalance of supply and demand is affecting present-day agricultural production. However, farmers and industry leaders are focused on what is still to come in the future.
From labour shortages to potential outbreaks during production, the future of the meat industry is unclear. The outcome will depend on several factors: government aid, the spread of the virus and COVID-19’s behaviour — which is often unpredictable. Ultimately, the present handling of the meat industry may impact its future and relationship with consumers.
Current Standing
The Government of Canada recently decided to assist farms across the country with federal funding. These farms rely on the production and exportation of meats like beef, pork and chicken to reach supply and demand needs. However, as the virus continues spreading, farmworkers need to maintain physical distance and increase sanitation practices. The government’s funding will compensate workers during this time.
For Canada, part of the stress on the industry comes from the exportation needs. While farmers need to meet country-wide demands, Canada is also an international exporter, especially for the United States.
While the industry is currently suffering from labour shortages, production remains relatively stable. Farmers are adapting to meet new supply and demand requirements. For instance, since restaurants are closing, demands for certain foods, like cheese, will decrease. As workers fall ill and farms need to enforce social distancing, though, production is slowing down.
The funding from Canada’s federal government is supposed to help workers, especially those who are newly arriving. Migrants from Mexico and the Caribbean make up a large portion of Canada’s agricultural workforce. However, whether this funding will be enough is yet to come to light. Additionally, ensuring the even distribution of that money to migrant workers is another issue.
The Industry’s Future
Many experts are focusing on the road ahead. While the current path is fluctuating, the future may hold a more dangerous outcome for the industry. If the virus continues spreading at its current rate, farms may see more issues than ever before.
One of the main factors is the labour shortage. Currently, Canada’s farming labour force is lacking. Production is slow, and workers don’t have the resources and help they need to meet demands. In the future, this could worsen as fewer employees are available. For instance, the poultry sector faces significant demands every day. Part of the process of raising chickens includes weeks of tending to them. If there aren’t enough people to do this job, consumers will see the availability of chicken drop.
The issue of perishables will also present itself. As meat processing must be quick, slower production means more goods will go to waste. Meeting supply and demand requires healthy workers to keep the chain going.
The other major factor that will affect the industry is the spread of the virus. That depends on how the Canadian government handles COVID-19 and how efficiently people practice social distancing. Federal funding will aid production, but if the virus remains present, it will continue spreading. If it reaches processing plants, contamination will become a more serious issue than it already is.
Next Steps
To increase resources and support for farmers and migrant workers, the government will need to provide more emergency funding. This step allows the agriculture industry to invest in more tools, sanitation products, financial support and benefits for all workers. Monitoring the spread of the virus is also crucial. If the government can properly track and isolate cases, COVID-19 will dwindle in its effects. Then, meat industry workers will not have to worry about contracting or spreading the coronavirus.
Canadian Federal Government Taking Measures to Reduce Impact of COVID-19 on Agriculture
