Red Deer Living - Fall 2014 by Source Media Group

4 red deer Living • Fall 2014

contents Fa l l 2 0 1 4

VOL 4 • ISS 19

departments 7

food | What’s cooking at RDC Red Deer College’s cook apprenticeship program takes the cake

People | Driving force Sports have been a defining path for Olympian Lyndon Rush

14 OUTDOORS | Fun on the farm Leave the city behind for a fun and festive fall getaway 17 Culture | Powerful productions Red Deer’s upcoming theatre season has something for everyone

21 Community | Commemorative connections Local students honour those who died in the two World Wars 23 Feature | Care Packs Tools for School provides more than just supplies 25 Health & Wellness | Workplace wellness Steps to stay healthy at work and in life 26 Community | Rally time Red Deerians show support for the 2019 Canada Winter Games bid

14 21

columns 30 A SLICE OF LIFE | Homemade Halloween Creativity sometimes comes from necessity

items 6 Editor’s message

Cover photo courtesy RDC.

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 5

editor’s message

The festivities of fall Fall is a season that just can’t help itself. Inevitably and without fail, it brings exciting changes. Back-to-school time is a big one, certainly, but there will be new

PUBLISHER |

Source Media Group

info@sourcemediagroup.ca

things no matter what your age, as it’s a new season for activities and events and

A ss o c ia t e P U B L I S H E R |

community projects. This edition of Red Deer Living is a nod to the exciting things

jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca

happening in and around Red Deer this fall. We start by combining back-to-school with food in “What’s cooking at RDC?” You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the cook apprenticeship program, including a few peeks at the delicacies they create. Next, you’ll meet local Olympian, Lyndon Rush, who shares about his fastpaced career as a bobsleigh athlete. He’s also transitioning to an exciting new chapter, where he’ll share his love of sports with his kids and with up-and-coming athletes. This fall will bring other kinds of fun, with pumpkins exploding, chainsaws carving and lost people looking for help in mazes of corn. Want to learn more? Check out the Outdoors article to read about The Jungle Farm and Kraay Family Farm. Moving from pumpkins to props, the Culture article looks at live theatre happening across Red Deer. With everything from student plays to professional productions, there will be lots of opportunities to enjoy the arts this season. In “Commemorative connections,” you’ll read about an exciting project that Lindsay Thurber students are involved with, but the best word to describe this article isn’t excitement — it’s honour. The students are honouring veterans of the two World Wars. This year, with the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of D-Day, their work is even more poignant. Other important work is highlighted in “Care packs,” describing the local Tools for School program and the Tools for School Africa project. Both programs provide students with tools for educational success, and that’s just a win all the way around. The Health article looks at another way to achieve success by staying healthy in the workplace. You’ll get tips and resources to help you reach this often-elusive goal. Next, you’ll learn how Red Deerians were ready and showed their support for the 2019 Canada Winter Games. The exciting rally in August featured special guests Ron and Cari MacLean, and was a huge hit. Finally, Treena Mielke shares how you can create your own hit this fall in “Homemade Halloween.” Learn how an unexpected pumpkin shortage and a dusty sewing machine led to lasting family memories. As you head out to your own exciting things this fall, be sure to take a few minutes to enjoy the beauty of the season and to dive into this edition of Red Deer Living — it will definitely be time well spent.

Shelley Newman, Editor shelley.newman@sourcemediagroup.ca

6 red deer Living • Fall 2014

Editor|

Jim Zang

Shelley Newman

shelley.newman@sourcemediagroup.ca A r t d ire c t o r |

Jean Faye Rodriguez

jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca G raphi c d esig n er S

Dave Macaulay dave.macaulay@sourcemediagroup.ca

Megan Sereda megan.sereda@sourcemediagroup.ca pr o d u c t i o n a d m i n is t ra t o r |

Colleen Leier

colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca E D I TO R I A L

Jennifer Blair, Jock Mackenzie, Treena Mielke, Laurette Woodward P H OTO G R A P H Y

Jennifer Blair, Jock Mackenzie, Laurette Woodward A d v er t isi n g S A L E S

Andrea Rinkel andrea.rinkel@sourcemediagroup.ca A CCO U NT I N G

Norma Robertson accounting@sourcemediagroup.ca DISTRIBUTED BY

Canada Post, Media Classified, Source Media Group P R I N T E D I N C A N A DA

© 2014 Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publishers. Red Deer Living™ is published 4 times per annum and is available free through select distribution points in and around Red Deer. Source Media Group agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. Source Media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion. Red Deer Living™ accepts editorial submissions and letters to the editor by electronic mail only. Please forward any submissions, including your full name phone number and return email address, to reddeer.editor@sourcemediagroup.ca Contact: Source Media Group, 207, 5809 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0J9. Tel 403.532.3101, Fax 403.532.3109, Toll free 1.888.932.3101. www.sourcemediagroup.ca

food

Red Deer College’s cook apprenticeship program takes the cake

Beef tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto and sage. Photo courtery RDC.

What’s cooking at RDC? By Jennifer Blair

T Garnett Schoettler (left) and TJ Dubas. Photo by Jennifer Blair

“The main strength of the program is our weekly training system.”

J Dubas never saw himself as a chef. Sure, he had always dabbled in cooking at home, but it wasn’t until he got a job at a local restaurant that he really started to consider the culinary arts as a career. And his first stop was Red Deer College’s cook apprenticeship program. “As a base-level home cook, I had the interest in it, but when you get to the professional level, it becomes so much more,” says Dubas, who graduated from the program this year. “You realize just how little you actually know.” A Red Deer native, Dubas was drawn to Red Deer College over other technical schools because of how the program was structured at the college: once-a-week year-round training compared to the intensive two-monthlong training at other schools. “We come one day a week, but we go all year from September to June, whereas for them, it’s every day for about two months,” says Dubas. That’s what really sets Red Deer College’s cook apprenticeship program apart from other schools — both for students and for their employers, says chef instructor Garnett Schoettler. “The main strength of the program is our weekly training system,” says Schoettler, an 18-year veteran of the food industry. As a former chef, Schoettler knows first-hand that chefs “don’t really want to send their cooks away for eight weeks at a time.” “It’s great for the employers because they only have to allow the person to go for one day a week rather than for eight weeks in a row,” he says. But it’s great for the students too. “The weekly training system is really a feature

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 7

food Cook 301 soup stand. Photo courtesy RDC.

that works really well for cooks,” says Schoettler. “You don’t have to be gone from your job for two months, and you always have the money coming in.” The competitive three-year program, which accepts between 12 and 14 students every year, goes handin-hand with a restaurant apprenticeship; in fact, students need a job before they can apply to the program. “Sometimes the process for getting started can be a bit complicated,” says Schoettler. “Step one, you need to find a job. Step two, you need to register as an apprentice. Then step three, you can get in touch with the college and register for the program.” First-year students can expect to learn the basics of classical cooking techniques and of managing a kitchen, including kitchen organization and food safety. In the second year, students begin to tackle more complex dishes, while the third-year is dedicated to “more sophisticated, nuanced techniques,” as Dubas describes it. “The program presents you with a lot more opportunity to cook different things and observe different theories,” he says. “You come to understand classical dishes as well as modern interpretations of those dishes. It roots you with a really solid foundation that gives you a better chance to grow.” And through it all, students are given hands-on training in a top-of-the-line facility—experience that is vital for any professional kitchen. “What a lot of employers are looking for specifically are Red Seal chefs because it’s an apprenticeship, and with an apprenticeship, you have 1,560 hours working in the environment as well as the technical training to pair with it,” says Dubas. Because students graduate with a journeyman desig-

nation, job prospects are good, with past graduates going on to do anything from managing restaurant kitchens to working as an executive sous chef to running their own catering companies. “Generally chefs get into low-to-middle-management positions once they graduate from here,” says Schoettler Other graduates like Dubas, who will be heading to London for the next few years, use their education to work abroad. “The Red Seal is your ticket,” says Schoettler. “It will take you anywhere you want. If travelling is your thing, you can travel the world with cooking. It just opens so many doors.” For Dubas, the program itself has been “an amazingly rewarding experience.” “It is work, but if it’s something you really care about doing and are really vested in, it doesn’t feel like work,” he says. “It’s not going to be without its trying times. That’s what’s going to make you really decide if you want to pursue a culinary career.” A career as a chef may not be for everyone, he says, but even so, he would urge anyone who’s thinking about it to give it a shot. “If you feel like this is something you should do, there’s no harm in trying. There’s no downside to education and experience.” For more information about Red Deer College’s cook apprenticeship program, visit www.rdc.ab.ca or www.facebook.com/ rdccookapprenticeprogram. RL

Cook apprentice 2011-2012. Photo courtesy RDC

8 red deer Living • Fall 2014

people

Driving force Sports have been a defining path for Olympian Lyndon Rush By Shelley Newman

A Photo by David McColm, 2012

Lyndon Rush (left) and brakeman Jesse Lumsden in 2012. Photo courtesy Lyndon Rush.

t first, he thought it was a teammate playing a practical joke. When Lyndon Rush was in his last year at the University of Saskatchewan, he received a voice mail message from a representative with Bobsleigh Canada, asking if he was interested in attending the bobsleigh testing camps in Calgary. “I was in the middle of final exams, and I really thought it was another linebacker who left the message — I thought it was a joke!” he recalls. “The next day, I asked one of my coaches if he’d given my name to Bobsleigh Canada, and he had, so I called them back right away.” That phone call translated into a life-changing move for Rush and his wife, Krysta. The newly-married couple had both been attending university in Saskatoon and the opportunity to get involved in bobsleigh came at an ideal time. “We were in that transient phase of life, going to school and working part-time jobs,” says Krysta. “This was exciting because it was a chance for an interesting new adventure.” For Lyndon, who been a linebacker with the U of S Huskies football team, it was an opportunity to stay involved in athletics. “I wanted to give this a try, so I went to the

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 9

people

A testing camps in Calgary,” he explains. “When I found out that I had made the team, Krysta and I moved there and got jobs, and I began training.” Rush was initially in training to be a brakeman, but when he pulled his hamstring, he switched and became a driver. “At Canada Olympic Park, there’s an ice-house with an indoor push camp,” he says. “It was interesting, because I’d been training all summer for a thing I hadn’t done yet. The first time I ever went down the track at all, I was driving, and I just fell in love with it.” That first start for Rush was at a lower level on the track and was, as he describes, “like a really fast go-cart ride.” Once he started completing full runs, he found a different level of speed and intensity. “The G-force is like a roller coaster and, with the way the pressure pulls you, the only time you really have control is in the corners,” Rush explains. “It’s challenging because there’s no such thing as a perfect run — you just have to be really precise to make the fastest time you can.” In 2004, while Lyndon was honing his skills on the bobsleigh track, he and Krysta decided to move to Sylvan Lake. “We’re both originally from Humboldt, which is a pretty small town, so Calgary wasn’t quite a fit,” Krysta says. “Plus, Lyndon’s parents had moved to Sylvan Lake and his dad had a real estate firm there, so it was an opportunity for Lyndon to be involved in the business.” Once Rush completed his real estate course, a very busy juggling act began, with him working as a full-time realtor and being a full-time athlete. During these years, he continued to develop as a bobsleigh driver, gaining competition experience

“The first time I ever went down the track at all, I was driving, and I just fell in love with it.” 10 red deer Living • Fall 2014

(above) Rush and his teammates — Chris Le Bihan, David Bissett and Lascelles Brown — made history when they won a bronze medal in four-man bobsleigh at the Vancouver Olympics. (right) Rush competing in 2012. Photo by David McColm.

across North America and Europe. “At first I was on the development team and competed across North America,” he says. “Then, as I gained experience, I started racing on the World Cup circuit.” 2009 brought big changes for Rush: he won World Cup gold medals in both the two- and four-man events. He also quit working as a realtor and dedicated himself to finding sponsorship for him and his team so they could end the working athlete juggling act. “I was dreading going out and asking for money, but it turns out people were interested and wanted to help,” he says. “A lot of local Red Deer and Sylvan Lake people helped so much. Steven and Lorna Collicutt, in particular, really spearheaded a group that helped us to gain sponsorship, and we used that money to buy our equipment. This was a big reason why we won a medal at the 2010 Olympics.” Rush and his teammates — Chris Le Bihan, David Bissett and Lascelles Brown — made history when they

people

(L-R) Olivia, Amelia, Lyndon and Harriet bike riding. Photo by Tanya Lee.

B Lyndon playing on the U of S Huskies. Photo by Ivan Tam. C Lyndon and Krysta Rush with their children. Photo by Tanya Lee. D Amelia, Harriet and Olivia. Photo courtesy Lyndon Rush.

C won a bronze medal in four-man bobsleigh at the Vancouver Olympics. They were the first Canadian team in over 40 years to medal in this event, and they were the first to do it on Canadian soil. After this accomplishment, Rush became the leader of the Canadian bobsleigh team, and he set his sights on one more Olympic games. “You really set your training up on four-year cycles, based on the Olympics,” he explains. After Vancouver, Rush continued to compete and win on the World Cup circuit. At the Sochi Olympics, he and his team were the top-finishing Canadians in the four-man event. “When I got home from Sochi this year, I knew that it was time for me to retire from bobsleigh and return to working as a realtor full time,” he says. “It’s just a natural process that your passion shifts. Krysta and I had three kids and a baby on the way, and I really wanted to have time to spend with them without being on the road so much.” The couple now has four children: Olivia, Amelia

and Harriet, who are eight, five and two years old, and Winston who is three months old. For the older two, their Olympic dad is also their dad who takes them to the BMX track throughout the summer. “BMX is a lot like bobsleigh in that they’re both fast races that require athletics and sprinting starts,” Rush says. “Red Deer BMX is a great club that offers programs for young children, and we have a ton of fun with it.” Rush has become involved in mentoring and coaching with the club, and he will also begin working with development athletes for Bobsleigh Canada this year. “There are so many carry-overs in sports, with the mental training and learning what it takes to be in competitions, so I’m happy to share that where I can,” he says. Sports have been a part of the Rush family’s lives since both Lyndon and Krysta were children, and they look forward to developing that with their own children. “It’s interesting to watch our kids develop. Our two-year-old has a strider bike with no pedals, and she’s been using that so much that she’s now riding a two-wheeler on her own — she’s definitely matching her dad’s tenacity!” Krysta laughs. “But, no matter what, kids need development and sport is a good way to nurture positive things. We’ll continue to stay active as a family because that’s such a big part of who we are.” RL

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 11

outdoors

Leave the city behind for a fun and festive fall getaway

on the

Fun farm The Jungle Farm. Photo courtesy Carla Victor.

The cool, crisp air and the sunny and pleasant afternoons of autumn create the perfect opportunity to get out of the city and enjoy the season with friends or family. There are plenty of locations in Central Alberta that provide idyllic getaways. Two of them are close to Red Deer, each offering its own version of fall fun. The Jungle Farm Known first for its luscious u-pick strawberries in the summer, the Jungle Farm has been expanding its fall offerings for several years now. A corn maze with two ‘full moon mazes’ in the fall, wagon rides, pumpkin patch, farm animals and pedal cars keeps visitors entertained. The owners recently added ‘Strawberry Mountain,’ a huge hill with a 60-foot-long sliding tunnel inside. Also, the ‘Pumpkin Cannon’ is a very popular attraction. Pumpkins loaded into a long metal tube are exploded out to see how far they go before crashing, or splatting, to the ground. “People — well, especially the men — enjoy seeing how far the pumpkins go,” laughs owner Leona Staples. “Some of the pumpkins blow up and that always gets a cheer.” With similarly dramatic results, the pumpkin

By Laurette Woodward

slingshot uses a bungee cord with a 12 foot pole in the ground for an anchor, ensuring the fall squash sail through the air quite a distance. Recently, the Jungle Farm also began offering pumpkin carving with power tools. “We have patterns and teach people how,” says Staples, who says the event is best for participants aged 12 or older. With pumpkins for carving, blowing-up and sailing through the air, the orange globes abound at the Jungle Farm. Add in the fall family festival with scarecrow making the first Saturday of October and a Sauerkraut Festival, and you’ll find fall tastes, colours and textures everywhere. “It’s a great place for photos,” says Staples. “We intentionally create photo opportunities for people.” The Jungle Farm is located on land that has belonged to Leona Staples’ family for more than 100 years. The farm has certainly changed from the traditional farm it once was, and Staples feels passionately about her work there. “I’m farming people!” she says. “We’re creating a chance for people to enjoy the outdoors, to feel a connection to the farm and the place where their food comes from.”

“We’re creating a chance for people to enjoy the outdoors, to feel a connection to the farm and the place where their food comes from.” 14 red deer Living • Fall 2014

outdoors

A C

B Kraay Family Farm Home to the Lacombe Corn Maze, Kraay Family Farm is celebrating 15 years of creating fun for visitors. “We started as farmers, so a corn maze was a natural evolution for us,” says Rachel Kraay, owner. Once the corn maze began in 2000, the first in Alberta, the evolution of fun continued, with the owners adding new attractions for people to enjoy each year. There are now two jumping pillows, lifesize snakes and ladders, a corn blaster and pumpkin cannon, gemstone mining, farm animals and other play areas. The second jumping pillow is one of the new items this year. It was added so that one pillow can be used only for little ones and the second pillow will allow bigger kids to have fun without worrying about the younger children. Other new items this year include carnival food and a ‘high striker’ — think of those games where people use a hammer to strike a platform hard enough to ring a bell at the top. “We have a reputation for having something new every year,” says Kraay. “People anticipate finding that, so we work hard to find activities that match what we’re trying to do.”

“We think ‘play’ is very important, especially in the outdoors,” she says. So, the Kraays intentionally design activities that encourage participation. “We think everyone needs to have fun,” she says. Kraay’s favourite story is of a family who came to the farm for a child’s party. The 85-year-old grandma had so much fun, the next year she wanted her own birthday party held there. An aerial photo shows this year’s corn maze pathways in the image of a steam train, a nod to Alberta Prairie Steam Train, which is celebrating its 25th year. The maze is in a slightly different location than in the past, to allow more activities as well as an observation bridge for those not wishing to walk through the maze. “Even if you’ve already been this season, you might want to go again in the fall”, says Kraay. “The nights are cooler and darker, and the corn stalks are crunchy. It’s a totally different experience in autumn.” RL

A The Kraay Family Farm corn maze, 2014 B Jumping pillows at Kraay Family Farm C Lassoing at the Jungle Farm D Pumpkin sling at the Jungle Farm Photos A & B courtesy the Kraay family. Photos C & D courtesy Carla Victor.

For more information visit www.kraayfamilyfarm.com and www.thejunglefarm.com

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 15

16 red deer Living • Fall 2014

culture

Powerful productions Red Deer’s upcoming theatre season has something for everyone By Jennifer Blair

he lights dim, and the curtains draw, drawing with them the attention of a transfixed audience who have come see a play. And for those few short hours, the cares of the day are eased away as the audience loses itself in make-believe — if only for an evening. “People love a story,” says Paolo Mancuso, president of Central Alberta Theatre. “We all love stories, and we want to see stories told.” Central Alberta Theatre has been entertaining Red Deer theatre-goers with productions for over 40 years, and the upcoming season will be no different, says Mancuso. “They’re going to be thought-provoking, very entertaining, timely plays,” he says of what audiences can expect from CAT this year. “We also have other plays that have a little more throat to them. Those are the deeper themed plays that make people really think about their relationship with others.” Kicking off CAT’s season is a play that wasn’t “on the radar at all” for the volunteer-run theatre company: a production of the famous Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman by drama students from two local high schools. “They came to us and said, ‘Would you support us in doing this?’” he explains. “We’re very excited about supporting them. Theatre is about people of all ages, and bringing in young thespians is very exciting.” But even more exciting is CAT’s return to dinner theatre after a two-year break. “We’re mostly known in Central Alberta for our dinner theatre,” says Mancuso. “The return to dinner theatre is a real highlight for people in Red Deer.”

Past production at Central Alberta Theatre. Photo courtesy CAT. Fall 2014 • red deer Living 17

culture

“Everybody thinks it’s a play about food, but it’s really a backdrop. It’s about all the things that come along with food.”

A Leslie Greentree and Blaine Newton. Photo courtesy Danil Ivanov. B My Name Is Rachel Corrie. Photo courtesy Ignition Theatre. C & D Past productions at Central Alberta Theatre. Photos C & D courtesy CAT.

People go to dinner theatre because they “really want to be able to put the day behind them,” he says. “Their intent is to relax, have a meal, have some wine with friends and family, have a really good laugh, and put all the worries of the world away for one evening.” And CAT’s dinner theatre isn’t the only thing that’s coming back after a two-year hiatus. Ignition Theatre will also return for the upcoming season with the world premiere of Oral Fixations, a play crafted by local playwrights Blaine Newton and Leslie Greentree. “Their play is very non-traditional,” says Matt Grue, artistic director for Ignition Theatre. “Audiences will have no idea what to expect coming in, but I think they’ll really love it.” Using food as “a metaphor for a million different things,” Oral Fixations is a series of unrelated but interconnected scenes “explored in the Blaine and Leslie way, which is very sharp and witty but also really poignant. Everybody thinks it’s a play about food, but it’s really a backdrop. It’s about all the things that come along with food,” says Grue. “I think everybody will get something out of it. Food is so universal, and the play lends itself to that.” The non-linear structure of the play reflects that universality, says Newton, an award-winning local playwright who has presented numerous productions across western Canada. “It’s about food, and it’s about relationships, and it’s about how people’s fixations with either of the two impact the other,” he says. “We knew

18 red deer Living • Fall 2014

A there are many different stories to tell, and getting into those stories was both the challenge and the reward. The more ways we could do that, the more ways we could connect with the audience.” Greentree agrees. “I like poking at a subject from a million different sides,” says Greentree, who has published two books of poetry and an award-winning book of short stories. “It’s a fun series of pieces with very, very different characters. There’s dramatic and touching moments, and there’s ridiculous, inappropriate moments, and everything in between.” Because of that, the play has “very broad appeal,” says Newton. “I think audiences will connect to these situations and either find themselves in it or they will recognize it from other relationships or they may be in complete denial about it altogether and just feel oddly uncomfortable at the end.” Grue feels the same way about The Glass Menagerie, the other play in Ignition’s 2014–15 lineup. “I think that play is so relevant today,” he says of Tennessee Williams’ classic. “The themes of feeling suffocated but responsible to your family and the need to break free from that — I think all those things will come out.” And though people may remember The Glass Menagerie as a “dense, poetic” play they read in high school, Ignition’s

culture

“There’s no experience like it – seeing real people do real things in real time. And to experience that in a communal aspect in an audience is something you just can’t get anywhere else.” goal is to make the play — and theatre in general — accessible for everyone. “You don’t have to think of the theatre as an event,” says Grue. “You don’t have to get dressed up or put on a suit and tie. You can go to the theatre simply for the enjoyment of what you’re going to see on stage.” And live theatre is an experience unlike any other, says Newton. “We live in a culture of experiences, and you go see theatre for an experience,” he says. “There is no experience like it — seeing real people do real things in real time. And to experience that in a communal aspect in an audience is something you just can’t get anywhere else.” Visit www.centralalbertatheatre.net and www.ignitiontheatre.ca for more information. RL

Another great theatre season at RDC On top of the other great plays across the community this upcoming theatre season, Red Deer College has planned an exciting lineup that includes William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead by John Heimbuch, an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood — a few among many quality productions audiences can expect from at Red Deer College this theatre season. Visit www.rdc.ab.ca to learn more.

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 19

20 red deer Living • Fall 2014

community

Commemorative connections Local students honour those who died in the two World Wars By Shelley Newman

M At the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Mother Canada mourns her dead as she overlooks the battlefield where Canadian troops stormed the hill.

The exchange was intended to provide French students in grades 10, 11 and 12 a chance to practice their language skills while learning about the war.

ark Howell’s great uncle was 17 years old when he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force to serve in the First World War. Decades later, Howell was 17 years old when he went to look for that same great uncle’s grave in France. He was the first person in his family to travel to the battlefield cemeteries, and it was possible thanks to the Commemorative Wall Project at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School, an exchange program where local students go to France every two years. “We started the program in 1994 as an exchange with our sister school in Mulhouse, France,” says Rob Porkka, director of international services with Red Deer Public Schools. “Students learn about the First World War as part of the curriculum, and this was an opportunity to bring it alive by being right there, at the exact places where the battles occurred.” Porkka, who was a social studies teacher at Lindsay Thurber at the time, founded the program with French teacher, Clem Hebert. The exchange was intended to provide French students in grades 10, 11 and 12 a chance to practice their language skills while learning about the war. The teachers also saw an opportunity to provide extra meaning, as current students could learn about and connect with past Red Deer students who died in the battles overseas. “There are two bronze plaques in Lindsay Thurber with the names of Red Deer students that died in the First and Second World Wars,” Porkka explains. “That was our starting place, so we began with the First World War plaque, and the students researched William Arthur Bower, whose name was on the list.” That first year, long-time Red Deerian, Dorothy Bower, was a welcome resource for students, as she had letters and information from her uncle’s service. The family connection continued, as Murray Pelech, William Arthur Bower’s great, great nephew, visited the grave during the trip to France. “We always try to find a connection for students,” says Porkka. “Over the years,

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 21

community

The Commemorative Wall Project has been nominated for a Heritage Recognition Award this year, which is fitting, as this is also the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

there have been many students who have visited the graves of their relatives and that provides special meaning for the trips.” Students have also found meaning in unexpected ways, as a happenstance meeting with a lady at Bény-sur-Mer in France has led to an on-going connection. “We met Mrs. Legouix at the war cemetery, and she asked what we were doing. Then, before we knew it, she insisted we come to her house for coffee — all 40 students and the chaperones!” Porkka laughs. “She’s close to 80 now, but it’s become a tradition, and we visit her every two years. She was a child during the Second World War, and she really humanizes the experience and talks about how costly it was for both sides.” Another tradition for each trip is visiting the battlefield cemetery of the local soldier that students have researched. They place a granite plaque at the grave and hold an on-site ceremony. Back home, a framed photo of the gravesite, soldier and student is placed on the Commemorative Wall at the school. Students who were part of the trip then create and present a major multi-media presentation for all Lindsay Thurber students at the yearly Remembrance Day ceremony. “This is an amazing project,” says Janet Pennington, heritage development coordinator with The City of Red Deer. “By providing students the opportunity to research the soldiers and then A Commemorative wall at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. Photo by Shelley Newman. B Murray Pelech speaking at a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. C Vimy German Cemetery. D One of the groups of students at Vimy Ridge. Photos B-D courtesy Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. 22 red deer Living • Fall 2014

to be right there at the battlefield gravesites, it can’t help but convey an enormous sense of awareness and respect for the sacrifices people made. When students pass those messages on to other students, the meaning and impact is huge.” The Commemorative Wall Project has been nominated for a Heritage Recognition Award this year, which is fitting, as this is also the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. “People don’t realize the magnitude of carnage and loss,” says Pennington. “60,000 Canadians died in the First World War, and 850 people left Red Deer to serve. That’s the equivalent of just under 32,000 people leaving today. The impact on Central Albertans was enormous.” With the continuation of the Commemorative Wall Project, the impact of war and the sacrifices of Central Albertans will continue to be honoured by students. “Many teachers and staff have contributed to this program, so it’s able to carry on,” says Porkka. “Students have now visited the graves of all the soldiers listed on the First World War plaque, so now they’ll visit those listed on the Second World War plaque. It’s important they keep that connection with local people who served and died in the wars.” RL

C D

feature

Care packs Tools for School provides more than just supplies Story and photos by Jock Mackenzie

I Darcy Ouellet and Trina Clemence at CAWOS

magine the smile on the face of a student who opens a backpack brimming with school supplies from the Tools for Schools project. Imagine almost 1,300 smiles. Last year, 1,285 backpacks were given out. This year, that number could increase to between 1,400 and 1,500. “Tools for Schools serves students from across Central Alberta. Schools are notified about the program each spring and information is sent home through school newsletters,” says Darcy Ouellet, fund development officer with Central Alberta Women’s Outreach Society (CAWOS). “Through the program, backpacks are filled with school supplies — items that have been determined through conversations with the four school districts in Central Alberta, to ensure the right supplies are included.” The program is a collaborative effort between

CAWOS and the United Way of Central Alberta. The backpacks come in a wide variety of colours, designs and sizes, and they’re grouped into one of four categories: Kindergarten to Grade 2, Grades 3 to 5, Grades 6 to 8 and Grades 9 to 12. And who fills them? You do! The Tools for Schools project has zero budget and is run totally by volunteers. Caring citizens provide monetary donations and drop supplies into the collection bins at one of several locations: Walmarts (Red Deer North, Red Deer South and Sylvan Lake), Costco, both Staples stores, the United Way office or the CAWOS office. The supplies are gathered and sorted by volunteers. “Seniors are perhaps the best at making donations,” says employee Breanne Huhn at the south Staples store. “Often they’ll look at our sale flyer,

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 23

feature

supplies needed for tools for school

purchase a variety of items and put them in our bin by the cashier desk. It’s really heartwarming.” It’s a similar story across the parking lot at Costco. “The bin gets filled several times a day,” says Justin Herr, assistant front end manager. “People are incredibly generous. And they’re not looking for any recognition. They just like to give.” Families who may need to use the Tools for School program can go to the Women’s Outreach Centre, meet with a worker and fill out the necessary paper work. The worker walks down the hall to the backpack room, selects a pack at the appropriate grade level and gives it to the recipient. During the initial conversation, it is sometimes determined that CAWOS can be of further assistance in other areas. “There’s often a trickle-down effect,” says Ouellet. “We may find there are other areas where we

Kindergarten - Grade 2 1 Backpack 4 Exercise Book 4 Duotangs 1 Pencil Case 10 HB Pencils 1 Pencil Sharpener

1 Box Wax Crayons 2 Erasers 1 Ruler 2 Glue Sticks 2 White glue 1 Pair Scissors

Grade 3 - grade 5 1 Backpack 2” Binder 4 Exercise Books 4 Duotangs 2 Packages of Paper 1 Pencil Case 10 HB Pencils 3 Blue Pens

2 Red Pens 1 Package of Crayons 1 Package of Markers 2 Erasers 1 Ruler 2 Glue Sticks 1White Glue 1 Pair of Scissors

Grade 6 - Grade 8 1 Backpack 2” Binder 1 Coil Scribbler 4 Exercise Books 4 Duotangs 2 Report Covers 1 Package Dividers 1 Package of paper 1 Pencil Case 10 HB Pencils

5 Blue Pens 2 Red Pens 1 Package of Pencil Crayons 2 Highlighters 2 Erasers 2 Glue Sticks 1 Geometry Set 1 Pair of Scissors

Grade 9 - Grade 12 1 Backpack 2” Binder 1 Coil Scribbler 4 Exercise Books 4 Duotangs 2 Report Covers 1 Package Dividers 1 Package of Paper 4 Mechanical Pencils

5 Blue Pens 2 Red Pens 1 Package of Pencil Crayons 2 Highlighters 2 Erasers 2 Glue Sticks 1 Geometry Set

24 red deer Living • Fall 2014

can help — like our food co-op.” People who are interested in donating to Tools for School can make monetary donations through normal channels, and it’s also possible to donate by texting on your cell phone. Just text “Outreach” to 45678. Donations of $5 can be made each time to a maximum of four times a month. Tax receipts are available. If you’d prefer to donate school supplies, the list of items is available on the CAWOS website at www.womensoutreach.ca. Justin Herr with the Tools for Even though 70 per cent of the backSchool bin at Costco. packs are given out in the August/September time frame, Tools for Schools runs 365 days a year. There’s never a bad time to make a difference in your own community. RL

Tools for School Africa “We are so hands on,” says Lyn Goertzen, Chair of Tools for Schools Africa, “and that’s what sets us apart.” Since 2006, the organization has been working to improve the quality of life for students in Northern Ghana by enhancing their educational opportunities. Over the past years, Tools for Schools Africa has delivered container loads of books and school resources, provided teacher training, initiated scholarship programs and built additions to schools with classroom blocks, offices, computer labs and libraries. It has also published two books, with a third is in progress. “We have personal connections,” says Goertzen. “Every year, we have people going to Ghana. We know each of the girls personally.” It’s this kind of volunteer commitment that ensures anything being sent goes directly to whom it’s intended. And it’s the volunteer aspect that keeps overhead and administration costs to less than one per cent. In 2013, the Central Alberta community raised over $110,000 for Tools for School Africa. This helps sponsor 11 girls who are in either university or post secondary training. It also pays B tuition and associated fees for more than 70 junior/senior girls. Lots of hard work, thousands of volunteer hours and dozens of fundraising efforts make this assistance possible. The public is invited to attend next fundraiser “Shine, a Unique Accessories Sale” to be held A on September 25 at 7 p.m. at Festival Hall. For more information, please call Lyn Goertzen at 403-3144911. www.tfs-africa.org

A Children in Ghana. B Rashida, a sponsored student with Tools for School Africa. Photos courtesy Tools for School Africa.

health and wellness

Workplace wellness Steps to stay healthy at work and in life By Laurette Woodward

ctober in Canada marks “Workplace Health Month.” The purpose is to provide tools and awareness so people can make their workplaces more healthy.

Avoiding illness Most of us know the basics for avoiding sickness: wash hands well, cover your cough, stay home when you’re sick, eat well, drink lots of water, get enough rest, exercise and reduce stress. “An important thing to remember is stay home when you’re sick,” Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Medical Officer of Health, Central Zone. “There is a cultural drive to be productive, and when we’re sick we feel we need to ‘tough it out,’” she says. “But you’ll get better faster if you stay at home, and you won’t make others sick. That culture needs to change.”

Getting and staying active Another aspect of wellness is becoming active, and staying that way. Experts say a minimum of two-anda-half hours of moderate activity per week is what people need. Moderate means activities that raise the heart rate. The good news is you don’t have to do your exercise all at once. It’s okay to spread it out into smaller periods of time. For instance, go for a walk during your break, park a few blocks away and walk the remaining distance, or walk to a coworker’s desk to talk rather than email. Exercise might be hard to fit into your life, but the benefits are significant. “Lower blood pressure, healthy weight, heart health, improved management of diabetes and prevention of diseases like diabetes and osteoporosis are some of the physical benefits,” says Hinshaw. “Mental well-being is an important result as well.”

the absence of illness. It is a state of positive well-being.” “There is an unfortunate stigma about mental illness,” says Hinshaw. “Sometimes people hope mental illness will go away on its own. We need to allow people to talk about it and seek help earlier.” If you’ve ever had thoughts of suicide, that is a clear sign to get help immediately, says Hinshaw. Also, the following conditions are potential red flags: • Loss of enjoyment in activities you used to like • Feelings of hopelessness that linger • On-going worry • Difficulty sleeping • Loss of appetite or eating too much “By themselves, these changes might not mean a lot, but especially if you experience several, you should take action,” says Hinshaw. Taking action is key when it comes to your health. “Promoting our own wellness is under our own control,” says Hinshaw. “It shouldn’t be something that happens someday in the future. The time to start making positive changes is today.” RL

For more information, visit www.albertahealthservices.ca and www.healthyworkplacemonth.ca

Mental wellness Mental health problems account for about half of employee absences due to illness each year in Canada. According to Alberta Health Services, mental health claims are the fastest growing category of disability in the workplace. “People think they are well or healthy if they are not ill,” says Hinshaw, “But wellness is not just Fall 2014 • red deer Living 25

community

Rally time! Red Deerians show support for the 2019 Canada Winter Games bid By Shelley Newman

hen Red Deerians come together, amazing things can happen. They can even create a snowstorm. In downtown Red Deer. In August. Thankfully, this snowstorm was man-made, as it was constructed with thousands of paper snowflakes crafted by volunteers and supplemented by 200 pounds of cornstarch and artificial snow. This winter wonderland was a welcome sight, as it was part of the ambience of the Red Deer is Ready Rally supporting the community’s bid to host the 2019 Canada Winter Games. “We’re just thrilled the community showed such wonderful support for the Canada Winter Games!” says Val Jensen, community engagement co-ordinator for the Red Deer is Ready Rally. “Volunteers, businesses and the public have been so supportive throughout the planning stages for this rally, and today was the perfect way to showcase what can happen when people come together.” The rally, which took place on August 22, was possible thanks to over 500 volunteers, including Jensen and her fellow co-ordinator, Tyler Bowman. Planning for the event began just 10 weeks before the

26 red deer Living • Fall 2014

big day, but the short timeframe didn’t deter the organizers’ ambitious plans. “The Canada Winter Games is a major event, so we planned a major rally to show Red Deer’s support,” says Jensen. Thousands of people attended the rally, which included three stages with entertainment, 25 bouncy castles, 12 food trucks, interactive sporting displays and a flash mob with local dancers. “I tried really hard to get live reindeer, but they were all booked,” Jensen says. “But, there were still lots of opportunities for participants and families to have a great time and get photos in the winter wonderland setting.” A special highlight happened in the afternoon, much to the delight of the crowd, when Ron and Cari MacLean spoke at the main presentation. The famous Canadian couple, who spent their teen years in Red Deer, are honourary members of Red Deer’s 2019 Canada Winter Games Bid Planning Committee. While the rally was the public portion of the events on August 22, the local bid planning committee was busy throughout the day, working with the visiting 2019 Canada Winter Games Bid Evaluation Committee at meetings and at site visits of the potential venues. Since Red Deer and Lethbridge were the two communities vying to host the games, the assessment of the visiting bid evaluation committee was a pivotal step to determine the host community. “Red Deer has provided a strong bid to be the host community,” says Lyn Radford, chair of Red Deer’s bid for the 2019 Canada Winter Games. “We’ve got remarkable community and corporate support, and we have partnerships with organizations like RDC, Westerner Park, Canyon Ski Hill, River Bend and all three school boards. With all of these groups coming together, the city certainly has the capacity to host the games.” Radford and the 13 members of Red Deer’s 2019 Canada Winter Games Bid Planning Committee have been hard at work since last fall, preparing the required elements for the stringent bid process. “At the beginning, we identified six areas of focus and then recruited volunteers to fulfill the necessary roles,” says Radford. “We’ve had over 400 volunteers working and strategizing on the different elements of the bid. We’re so appreciative of the tremendous amount of time people put in

community

and of the incredible support from across the community — including employers who have supported their employees being involved.” As part of the bid process, the committee prepared and submitted two major documents to the Canada Games Council. The first was a Technical Review, which included an overview of the venues for each of the 19 different sporting events of the games. The second document was the Comprehensive Host Community Bid Proposal, which the local bid committee creatively placed into a specially designed mini chuckwagon for delivery to the Canada Games Council. The volunteers and leaders who have already put in enormous amounts of time toward the 2019 Canada Winter Games bid consider it time well spent, given the benefits the games would have on Red Deer. “The games will undoubtedly have a positive economic impact. The provincial and federal governments alone will spend $22 million in the community that hosts the games — and that will either be here or in Lethbridge,” says Radford. “The Canada Winter Games would enhance Red Deer through the event itself and through the facilities and leadership that would be here to make our community stronger in the future.” The Canada Games Council completed its final reporting and recommendations and submitted these to the Province of Alberta for final consideration. At the time of publication, the host community had not yet been determined; the successful host community was announced on September 4. RL

For more information, visit www.reddeer.ca/reddeerisready

A Ron and Cari MacLean speaking at the rally. B A bagpipe player and RCMP officers led the dignitaries to the rally.

C Activities in City Hall Park. D Red Deer’s Canada Winter Games Bid, submitted in a chuckwagon. Photo courtesy The City of Red Deer.

Photos A-C by Shelley Newman

C Fall 2014 • red deer Living 27

| Advertising Feature |

Beautiful and inviting Webster Galleries Inc. encourages people to enjoy the art

n your next trip to Calgary, be sure to stop in at Webster Galleries Inc. This 12,000-square-foot gallery is full of new and original artworks waiting to inspire. Representing over 60 contemporary artists, the gallery showcases a large selection of quality paintings as well as a variety of Inuit carvings and Western bronzes. Open since 1979, Webster Galleries is known for providing a friendly and welcoming environment to everybody who walks through the door. According to owner, John Webster, it is part of the gallery experience that “visitors can just come in and browse through the galleries without people wanting to sell them something.” So whether you are searching for that perfect piece for your home or office or just looking to see what is out there, Webster Galleries is the place to visit. An ideal time to browse is during the third week in September, when local galleries such as Webster’s are open Friday night, Saturday and Sunday for an event known as Art Walk. This yearly event provides opportunities for art enthusiasts looking to browse

28 red deer Living • Fall 2014

in a fun, community atmosphere. Being located in the arts district in downtown Calgary makes Webster an ideal spot to peruse the collection of original artworks. Whether you are coming out to Art Walk or visiting Webster Galleries Inc. during regular hours, exciting shows are coming up this autumn. On display in September is a show of Canadian birds by Western Canadian artist Alan Hancock. October will showcase new original pieces by figurative artist Nicole St Pierre from Montreal. The next exhibit will be of works by Graeme Shaw, a landscape painter from British Columbia. To keep in touch with Webster Galleries Inc., please visit www.webstergalleries.com or follow the gallery on Facebook or Twitter. n

| Advertising Feature |

Toyota time Great selection and friendly staff highlight the car buying experience

f you’ve been a Toyota customer in Red Deer since 1976, you’ll call the south store the “new one.” In truth, it’s been there since 2005 — and it’s even bigger since the 2010 addition. Some things change but many don’t: friendly staff with some old familiar faces, same “customer loyal” commitment. On any visit, you are likely to catch Bart Lefley on the showroom floor, Laurie Maclise smiling at her receptionist desk or Terry Hogan in the Parts area with a telephone glued to his ear. At their posts and smiling you’ll find: Kathy Wegner coordinating appointments, and Jamie Williamson at her Service Advisor desk. Todd Archibald, Parts Manager, is a new guy. With over 50 employees, there are new faces eager to please, along with the experienced staff that you rely on and who enjoy doing their best to make Red Deer Toyota “The Right Choice.” Something else that doesn’t change is Red Deer Toyota’s commitment to the community. The company continues to provide support for the Red Deer Food Bank, Wounded Warriors,

Red Deer’s Rotary Clubs, the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce and the Westerner Agri-Trade. At this year’s Agri-Trade, which runs from November 5 to 8, Red Deer Toyota joins forces with Toyota Canada. Not only will you see the Toyota Tundra, the official truck of Agri-Trade, but you’ll be able to test drive it and over half a dozen other Toyotas. It’s been said that: “Toyotas don’t undergo sudden changes; they evolve.” Part of that evolution is Toyota’s increasing concern with new technology and an emphasis on safety. Bluetooth is now standard fare and a variety of safety improvements are evident across the board like cross-traffic and blind spot monitoring. Red Deer Toyota has almost 200 new and used vehicles on 7.5 acres. There’s something in every price range. Greatly anticipated is the total new design of the 2015 Camry. Haven’t been to Red Deer Toyota — or haven’t been lately? Take the short drive to Gasoline Alley on Red Deer’s south end and have a look around. It’s Toyota time. n

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 29

a slice of life with Treena Mielke

Homemade Halloween Creativity sometimes comes from necessity

ctober 30 turned out to be one of those days where gold and scarlet leaves wove an intricate pattern against a backdrop of brilliant blue. For once, however, I was oblivious to the dazzling colour show. Fall was in the air. I shivered and tucked another blanket around the baby, sleeping peacefully in her crib. She is so beautiful, I think, as I bend down to kiss her soft cheek, thanking God once again for this miracle. I sigh. It was time to get busy. Three kids, even though the middle one was off to Kindergarten and the oldest in Grade 2, didn’t leave a lot of time to reflect on much other than the repetitive round of laundry, meals, dishes. And, now after the registration for hockey, gymnastics, skating and piano lessons was over, it was time for another holiday. Halloween! By the time I got my procrastinating little self to check out the costumes, there wasn’t much left. I decided then, with absolutely no rhyme or reason, that I would make costumes for the older two children. The baby, I decided, was an angel no matter what she was wearing. I smile at her and she gazes at me with her angel blue eyes and agrees. All went well — or as well as to be expected with a novice sewer like myself. In surprisingly short order and with the help of an old Singer sewing machine, I created the A & W Bear and a pumpkin, both brilliant orange. Now, I just had a few odds and ends to pick up and we were good to go. Oh, and a pumpkin. I pull out my to-do list, crumpled in the back pocket of my jeans, along with a forgotten $5 bill. Item one: buy buttons to sew on A & W Bear costume. Two: look for green felt for the pumpkin costume. Three: buy pumpkin so kids can carve it

30 red deer Living • Fall 2014

after school. I was a mom on a mission, with hope in my heart and a crumpled to-do list in my pocket. I found the first two items on my list easily enough. Things were going well — better than expected. Now for the pumpkin. I visualized a nice, big round one. The children would carve it with the help of their father. I would spread newspaper on the kitchen table. We would use that little paring knife that gets used for everything including pumpkin carving, and I would rummage around for a big fat candle. It would be less than perfect, of course, but in its imperfection would be the perfection. Two hours and three grocery stores later, I came to a sad and bitter realization: there were no pumpkins to be had. Every store was sold out! And so it came to be that we did not put a pumpkin in our window that year. There was no little carving party, no funny little mistakes that we all laughed about as the jack-o-lantern’s tooth fell out, or its head wouldn’t sit straight. Instead, before the night shadows threw a web of darkness over the wee ghosts and goblins (and one A & W bear and pumpkin) who roamed the streets, we transformed our living room window into a crazy, wild and imperfect pumpkin patch. We used washable orange and green markers and drew little and big pumpkins all over our window. And then I lit all these candles I dug out of the closet and put them on the little table where the pumpkin was supposed to be. And, when I held the baby up to the scene we had created, she and I agreed the effect was truly magical. As for me, I do truly believe procrastination can be the mother of creativity and, in the end, imperfection is really perfection, coloured with magic markers and, most importantly, love. RL

Fall 2014 • red deer Living 31