Outsourcing of jobs and real impact on rural communities

While unemployment has been a cause for concern for many years, the outsourcing of some job functions has already had an adverse impact on rural economies.

Following the unprecedented global conditions of 2020, many people were left unemployed or faced with financial difficulties due to pay cuts. Unemployment remains of concern in not just parts of the USA, but the world at large. Although unemployment has been an issue for years, it was exacerbated by the conditions of 2020. In 2018, Canada’s unemployment rate was reportedly at its 43-year low of 5.6%, but fast forward to early 2021, it reportedly worsened to a national unemployment rate of 7.8%. In light of the global landscape and state of economies, businesses have been forced to reassess their operations and cut costs where possible.

It is therefore not surprising that those businesses that were fortunate enough to pivot or make it through 2020 have tried to cut down on unnecessary operations. In some cases, entire departments were shut down and companies have, instead, resorted to either outsourcing some operations or working with freelancers and consulting with experts when necessary. The closure of some departments and businesses can be noted as a contributing factor to the current unemployment rate, particularly in rural communities.

Outsourcing and rural communities

In addition to the above, policies that allow employees to work remotely have been problematized by some. It is argued that remote work will lead to less job opportunities and the need for human capital. One of Lacombe’s largest employers has implemented such a policy, which allows employees to work remotely from anywhere in Canada. Moreover, others believe that it will lead to an overall decline in commercial investment. Due to the fact that jobs are generally outsourced to more developed or economically active states or countries, the impact on local rural communities has been highlighted. A recent example of this was the outsourcing of some of the in-house laundry operations of an Alberta laundromat. The move reportedly had an impact on roughly 350 employees, following a reported cut of some 11 000 jobs before that. This was prompted by the need to cut costs and save on upgrades and further investment into the existing company, more so under the current global financial conditions. These positions are often filled by general workers with little to no formal qualification, most of whom live in rural communities. Therefore, the company’s transition and outsourcing had an impact on the rural economy and the livelihoods of the people, further proving that the objections and initial reluctance from some may have been warranted.

In cases where some functions are outsourced, companies often centralise operations in larger cities and do away with the positions that were occupied by employees from the rural communities. With that in mind, people have found themselves in difficult financial positions and having to find alternative ways of staying afloat and providing for their families. It is because of such circumstances that the disadvantaged from rural communities have had to either explore entrepreneurial endeavours or consider the likes of online forex trading in the United States, as one need not depend on an employer in such cases. However, there is often not enough money available for circulation in the rural economies because unemployment is rife.

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How Classic Slots Features Are Evolving

Published on November 4, 2025

Duane Rolheiser

Slot machines have remained popular with players for over a century, with the same simple mechanism still being used to create winning spins across a series of reels. Yet, these games have evolved somewhat in recent years, as some of the classic features have been updated to introduce new gameplay mechanics and features.

Free Spins and Bonus Rounds

The first slot machine was created in the 1890s, with bonus rounds added by the 1930s. The introduction of electromechanical devices like Money Honey from Bally in the 1960s introduced programmable bonus rounds, replacing manually-triggered features and expanding gameplay variety. This has been followed by a huge variety of rounds, where players get free spins, collect symbols, or choose mystery objects, among others.

Modern online slots include a wide variety of bonus rounds, such as those that can be seen in the Hold & Win titles. These games typically give players at least one free re-spin, with special symbols locked into place.

Progressive Jackpots

The earliest slot machine to offer a progressive jackpot was Megabucks by International Game Technology in 1986. This mechanism allowed players to try and win a jackpot that climbed every time someone played the slot, with the jackpot finally paying out on a random spin. It greatly increases the available prizes and has remained a popular feature among slot
enthusiasts.

Online progressive slot games like Thunderstruck II Maple Moolah, Gladiator Jackpot, and Buffalo Blitz Megaways all showcase the sheer variety on offer in the contemporary landscape, with each having unique jackpot mechanisms. The Maple Moolah range of slots by Games Global takes popular slots and includes a jackpot seed of $1 million that increases with continued play. Most progressive jackpots are still awarded randomly, but some include a bonus game that triggers a payout.

Multipliers Can Be Added in a Number of Ways

Win multipliers have been a big part of the slots world since the first electromechanical machines were created in the middle of the 20th century. At first, this was a simple but effective way of increasing wins by 2x or 3x when the right symbols landed, meaning that players had the potential to receive payouts beyond standard paytable values. But they now get used in increasingly sophisticated ways that add more than just bigger wins.

Increasing multipliers are used to give an ever-bigger boost to winning spins. This type of multiplier can grow with each winning spin on some slots, while others increase with each spin made during the free spins round. An interesting twist sees multipliers earned by collecting special symbols, which accumulate multiplier levels through a meter-based system.

The way that these slot features have evolved is an indicator of the way that the online gaming industry has expanded significantly in recent years. We can expect to see more new features added in the future, while the traditional features we’ve looked at here will likely continue to evolve as new design elements are introduced.

Alberta

From Underdog to Top Broodmare

Published on November 1, 2025

Todayville

WATCH From Underdog to Top Broodmare (video)

Executive Producers Jeff Robillard (Horse Racing Alberta) and Mike Little (Shinelight Entertainment)

What began as an underdog story became a legacy of excellence. Crackers Hot Shot didn’t just race — she paved the way for future generations, and in doing so became one of the most influential producers the province has known.

The extraordinary journey of Crackers Hot Shot — once overlooked, now revered — stands as one of Alberta’s finest success stories in harness racing and breeding.

Born in humble circumstances and initially considered rough around the edges, Crackers Hot Shot overcame long odds to carve out a career that would forever impact the province’s racing industry. From a “wild, unhandled filly” to Alberta’s “Horse of the Year” in 2013, to producing foals who carry her spirit and fortitude into future generations.

Her influence ripples through Alberta’s racing and breeding landscape: from how young stock are prepared, to the aspirations of local breeders who now look to “the mare that did it” as proof that world-class talent can emerge from Alberta’s paddocks.

“Crackers Hot Shot, she had a tough start. She wasn’t much to look at when we first got her” — Rod Starkewski

“Crackers Hot Shot was left on her own – Carl Archibald heard us talking, he said ‘I’ll go get her – I live by there’. I think it took him 3 days to dig her out of the snow. She was completely wild – then we just started working on her. She really needed some humans to work with her – and get to know that people are not scary.” — Jackie Starkewski

“Crackers Hot Shot would be one of the top broodmares in Albeta percentage wise if nothing else. Her foals hit the track – they’re looking for the winners circle every time.” — Connie Kolthammer

Visit thehorses.com to learn more about Alberta’s Horse Racing industry.