In reviewing the live-stock situation, not withstanding its difficulties there is reason for continued hope and confidence in its future for Saskatchewan. The animal husbandry man is putting his work into a permanent system of agriculture over a longer period than the exclusive grain-grower. His aim is to maintain the fertility of the soil of which he is a steward for the time in which he holds possession and there is interest and variety in the management of such a big problem. Just how to maintain the right balance between grain and livestock on the typical prairie farm is a question worth considering carefully at the present time and it is to be hoped that it will receive the consideration by our farmers that such an important economic problem deserves.

Introduction: Over ten years ago the Saskatchewan Breast Cancer Network (SBCN) was created to work towards better meeting the needs of breast cancer patients and survivors in the province. With funding from the Cancer Program of the Public Health Agency of Canada in June 2009, the SBCN implemented the A Thinking, Learning and Caring Collaboration: Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle program in various communities throughout Saskatchewan.<p> Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the program implemented in 2009/2010 to: (1) determine to what extent the program was implemented as proposed; and (2) assess to what extent the program met its own goals.<p> Methods: Using a constructivist ethnographic mixed methodology, the data collected included self-report surveys, observational data, and semi-structured interviews, which were conducted with seven members of the Advisory Committee and five breast cancer survivors representing urban, rural, senior, young and Aboriginal demographics. Descriptive analysis was used to tabulate the surveys' results and qualitative analysis followed the structure of the program logic model.<p> Results: The results of this evaluation reveal that the program was implemented as proposed despite unforeseen challenges, which necessitated slight alterations in the timing of events. The program was successful in meeting many of its goals; however, the sustainability of these impacts are unlikely due to the disintegration of the formal Network following the completion of the program.<p> Conclusions: Future research should focus on the role of current medical service providers and grassroots organizations in meeting the needs of breast cancer survivors, beyond treatment for physical symptoms. Evidence surrounding the motivations to adopt healthy choices will facilitate effective program delivery for the diverse group of Canadian breast cancer survivors.

Stemphylium blight is a defoliating fungal disease caused by <i>Stemphylium botryosum</i>. It has become more prevalent in Saskatchewan. Although not much is known about the biology of the fungus, increasing lentil (Lens culinaris) yield losses of up 62% have been reported in Bangladesh and India. The infection of lentil by <i>S. botryosum</i> was investigated under a range of temperatures (5 to 30°C), wetness periods (0 to 48 h) and wetness periods interrupted by dry periods of 6 to 24 h. The experiments involved testing the impact of environmental conditions on germination of conidia on glass slides and stemphylium blight infection on lentil (cv. CDC Milestone). Generalised linear models and non-parametric tests were used to determine the effects of these factors on conidial germination and disease development. Infection levels increased with increasing temperature and wetness duration. A latent period of 48 h was observed at 25°C and 30°C under continuous wetness. The duration of the latent period increased with decreasing temperatures and decreasing wetness duration. <i>S. botryosum</i> required warm temperatures (above 25°C) and a minimum wetness period of 8 h for optimal disease development. Low levels of infection were observed within the first 2 h of incubation at 10°C and increased with longer wetting periods up to 48 h and temperatures up to 30°C. The pathogen could maintain infectivity during interrupted wetness periods despite its requirement for prolonged wetness periods. Infection levels were not significantly affected by interrupting dry periods of 6 to 24 h although long dry periods (24 h) combined with higher temperatures (30°C) resulted in a decrease in stemphylium blight severity. Germination studies on glass slides supported these findings. Response surface models were developed that provided a good fit for the response of conidial germination to temperature and wetness duration. The coefficients of determination for the regression of observed against predicted effects ranged from 0.88 to 0.97. The general additive model could also be used to predict stemphylium blight severity responses to temperature and wetness duration (scaled deviance = 1.04). However, that model tended to overestimate infection levels especially at lower temperatures. The coefficients of determination for the observed against predicted effects at 5 to 30ºC ranged from 0.77 to 0.92 for the general additive model.

This is the first scholarly study on the poetry of Saskatchewan writer John V. Hicks, and focuses on the themes of music and spirituality.

The main purpose of this study was to determine if Aboriginal people prefer goals of education that reflect an Aboriginal or Western perspective in education. In order to do this Aboriginal goals of education first had to be compiled. This study also investigated perspective differences within the Aboriginal community itself. The sub-categories of people in this study were: i) generational (age) differences; ii) level of education differences; and iii) gender differences.<p>The study was conducted in the Aboriginal communities of La Ronge, Montreal Lake and Timber Bay, Saskatchewan. Fifteen respondents were of Cree ancestry. One respondent was of Dene ancestry. There were eight men and eight women. The respondents were asked to rank a mix of Aboriginal goals of education and Saskatchewan Education goals of education. They were then interviewed to ascertain the reason(s) for their choices. The ranking exercise and the interview were equally important features of this study.<p> It was concluded that Aboriginal people would choose Aboriginal goals of education when given the opportunity. The reasons for their choices seem to be rooted in their past experiences and their hopes that their children will have a culturally more beneficial andsuccessful experience. It was also concluded that a Western perspective in education has not completely been discounted.

Stemphylium blight of lentil caused by <i>Stemphylium botryosum</i> Wallr., is a serious problem in Bangladesh, northeast India and Nepal causing more than 60 % yield losses under epidemic conditions. The pathogen started to appear on lentil in Saskatchewan in recent years and is widely distributed throughout western Canada but it is not well understood. An investigation of inheritance of resistance to stemphylium blight was done in the lentil cross Barimasur-4 × CDC Milestone. In order to develop a reliable indoor screening technique for this inheritance study, a suitable isolate of <i>Stemphylium botryosum</i>, a suitable culture medium for inoculum production and an appropriate plant age for indoor inoculation were identified. The maximum differential of disease severity was observed when lentil genotypes were inoculated at 14 days after planting (DAP). At 14 DAP, lentil plants rapidly defoliated but were capable of regrowth which caused variability in scoring for disease reaction. Inoculation at 42 DAP, close to the flowering stage, was found to be better for consistently scoring disease reaction. V8P medium was most suitable for inducing conidia production. Based on ability to sporulate, the isolate SB-19 from Saskatchewan was identified as suitable for conducting genetic studies of resistance to stemphylium blight. It was compared to isolate SB-BAN from Bangladesh for aggressiveness on two lentil cultivars. The SB-BAN isolate was found to be more aggressive. A preliminary screening of local and exotic germplasm done with the two isolates revealed considerable variability for disease resistance. Resistance to <i>S. botryosum</i> appeared to be quantitatively inherited in the cross Barimasur-4 × CDC Milestone according to both field and indoor screenings. The results of this study also confirmed that Precoz, one of the parents of Barimasur-4, was resistant to <i>S. botryosum</i>.

Scenarios developed by the National Energy Board of Canada predict that Canadian unconventional gas production, including coalbed methane (CBM), may be required to meet Canadian energy demands by the year 2008, and could constitute up to 65% of supply by 2025. Although there has been considerable CBM exploration and development in Alberta in recent years, there has been relatively limited activity in Saskatchewan.<p>The in-situ stress regime can have a strong influence on coal bed methane (CBM) production, coal permeability, hydraulic fracturing pressure, and borehole stability while drilling horizontal wells. A limited number of stress regime analyses have been conducted previously on a regional scale, for the entire Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB), but none has been conducted with a focus on Saskatchewan. The primary objective of this study was to investigate in-situ stress magnitudes and orientations in southwestern Saskatchewan. The secondary objective was to quantify the influence of in-situ stresses on operational practices that would be used to exploit CBM targets.<p>Analysis of vertical stress magnitudes and gradients were conducted using bulk density data compiled for 257 wells in southwest Saskatchewan. Vertical stress magnitudes calculated at the base of the Belly River Formation in the region where its CBM potential is greatest were found to be in the 6 to 12 MPa range. Vertical stress magnitudes at the top of the Mannville Group in the region where its CBM potential is greatest were found to be in the 12 to 18 MPa range. Data available for interpretation of minimum horizontal stress magnitudes were considerably more limited. A technique was developed to estimate these magnitudes using fracture stimulation data, which were available for the Viking Formation and Mannville Groups. Using this technique, minimum horizontal stress magnitudes at the top of the Mannville Group in the region of greatest interest were estimated to be 10 to 14 MPa. The results of these analyses suggest that depth is a dominant controlling factor for minimum horizontal stress magnitude, but that pore pressures (sub-normal pressures cause lower stresses) and lithology (shaley rocks, and perhaps coals, have higher stresses) also have notable effects. Insufficient data were obtained for direct estimation of minimum horizontal stresses in the Belly River Formation. Minimum horizontal stress magnitudes in this formation might be quite close to vertical stress magnitudes.<p>Borehole breakouts were analyzed to interpret the orientation of maximum horizontal stress (¥òHmax) in the study area. The mean orientation of the mean borehole breakouts gives a 137¨¬ with a circular standard deviation of 12¨¬, which parallels the minimum horizontal stress in the study area with a notable inflection overlying the Swift Current platform. The data is portrayed in a trajectory map. The trajectories indicated on the map can be used for predicting the orientation of induced hydraulic fractures, and the likely orientation of face cleats in coals. Knowledge of the orientations of these features is essential to effective development of CBM resources.<p>Based on the stress and pore pressure data presented in this thesis, it is anticipated that minimum effective stresses in the Belly River coals will typically be a few MPa, and up to 10 MPa in the Mannville coals. A very rough estimate of permeabilities based on the data compiled for various Canadian coals suggests that permeabilities could be in the 0.01 to 10 millidarcy range for the former, and 0.01 to 1 millidarcy range for the latter. <p>Borehole stability analyses were conducted for both the Belly River Formation and the Mannville Group. The results suggest that horizontal drilling of the Mannville coals should be feasible, without the need for high-density drilling muds. Given that the Belly River coals occur in numerous thin seams, they are most likely to be developed using vertical wells. Borehole instability is not likely to be a major problem in these vertical wells.<p>Recommendations are provided for laboratory investigation of coal permeabilities and mechanical properties, field testing for minimum horizontal stress magnitudes in coal seams and adjacent strata, and additional analysis of existing fracture stimulation, log and core data for strata not analyzed in this project.

This thesis examines the shift in governance structures, bargains, and processes in the Saskatchewan uranium industry between the 1970s and 2000s. Using a framework based on international political economy, the thesis analyzes the security, production, financial and knowledge structures that shaped the environment of the provinces uranium industry. In addition, an analysis of bargains created between and among structures helps provide further insight into the industry. Through this type of analysis, the thesis draws comparisons between the Allan Blakeney New Democratic Party and the Brad Wall Saskatchewan Party governments attempts to expand the uranium cycle in Saskatchewan. Due to conditions both internal and external to their administrations, the Blakeney and Wall governments engaged in two different processes, one closed and one open.<p> Looking at these two events through content analysis, studying official statements, public documents, government positions and media reports, this thesis explores the circumstances that engendered two different processes and the outcomes each process produced. The 1970s and 80s refinery debate relied on a state-centric process that limited relationships with the industrial sector and the societal sector. These factors contributed to the failure of the provincial government to win the refinery contract. Given different governance structures during this era, the outcome reached for the refinery may have been different. Two decades later, the nuclear energy debate in the 2000s benefitted from evolved governance structures. The state engaged in a stronger working relationship with industry and a more open discourse with the public. However, the increased governing versatility remained unable to counteract economic forces at the global level. Both cases exemplify the difficulty expanding an industry as complex and contentious as uranium despite substantial change in governance models.

The detrimental effects of climate change and the threat of diminishing fossil fuel reserves is forcing society to search for renewable sources of energy. Energy can be derived from the biomass of plant material by co-fire combustion with coal or on its own for the production of electricity. Energy can also be created by converting the plant biomass into ethanol, a gasoline substitute. When converted into bioenergy, plant biomass from Short Rotation Woody Crop (SRWC) systems has the potential to offset the use of fossil fuels if the yields can be maintained at profitable levels. The effect of first year application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on willow biomass production in a SRWC system is not well understood. Using field and growth chamber studies, the objectives of this study were to 1) determine biomass production in the growing seasons following a single application of N fertilizer in the year of planting, 2) determine the N recovery for five willow clones using a 15N tracer, and 3) evaluate the effects of various types and rates of fertilizers on biomass production. Objectives 1 and 2 were addressed in a field fertilization study conducted on agricultural lands in the Moist Mixed Grassland ecozone and at tree nursery in the Boreal Transition ecozone. Willow cuttings were planted and fertilized with 100 kg N ha-1 of granular ammonium nitrate. Twelve trees were fertilized with 5 kg N ha-1 of double 15N-labeled ammonium nitrate and 95 kg N ha-1 of granular ammonium nitrate. In the first growing season trees were browsed to a uniform height making biomass measurements unrepresentative of production potential. Annual shoot biomass production in the second year, however, was 0.39 to 2.0 Mg ha-1 and was not found to be significantly different between fertilizer treatments. Nitrogen recovery by entire trees ranged from 2.87 to 10.6 % in the first growing season and 0.39 to 2.95 % in the second growing season. Objective three was addressed in a growth chamber study. Willow cuttings were planted in pots and fertilized with 0, 50, 100 and 200 kg N ha-1 of granular ammonium nitrate and 100 kg N ha-1 of composted cattle manure. After a 90 day growth period shoot biomass production was significantly greater on the Prince Albert soil (1.28 to 5.34 g tree-1) than on the Saskatoon soil (1.18 to 3.59 g tree-1). No consistent trend between fertilizer treatments was observed. Further exploration into fertilization of willow SRWC systems should consider the application of multiple nutrient fertilizer blends, various rates and year of application to gain a better understanding of nutrient requirements of willow for the entire growth period.

Understanding the stratigraphic architecture of geologically complex reservoirs, such as the heavy oil deposits of Western Canada, is essential to achieve an efficient hydrocarbon recovery. Borehole and 3-D seismic data were integrated to define the stratigraphic architecture and generate 3-dimensional geological models of the Mannville Group in Saskatchewan. The Mannville is a stratigraphically complex unit formed of fluvial to marine deposits. Two areas in west-central and southern Saskatchewan were examined in this study. In west-central Saskatchewan, the area corresponds to a stratigraphically controlled heavy oil reservoir with production from the undifferentiated Dina-Cummings Members of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group. The southern area, although non-prospective for hydrocarbons, shares many similarities with time-equivalent strata in areas of heavy oil production. Seismic sequence stratigraphic principles together with log signatures permitted the subdivision of the Mannville into different packages. An initial geological model was generated integrating seismic and well-log data Multiattribute analysis and neural networks were used to generate a pseudo-lithology or gamma-ray volume. The incorporation of borehole core data to the model and the subsequent integration with the lithological prediction were crucial to capture the distribution of reservoir and non-reservoir deposits in the study area. The ability to visualize the 3-D seismic data in a variety of ways, including arbitrary lines and stratal or horizon slicing techniques helped the definition of stratigraphic features such as channels and scroll bars that affect fluid flow in hydrocarbon producing areas. Small-scale heterogeneities in the reservoir were not resolved due to the resolution of the seismic data. Although not undertaken in this study, the resulting stratigraphic framework could be used to help construct a static reservoir model. Because of the small size of the 3-D seismic surveys, horizontal slices through the data volume generally imaged only small portions of the paleogeomorphologic features thought to be present in this area. As such, it was only through the integration of datasets that the geological models were established.