6 minute read
Vegreville News Advertiser - Community
VFS Raises $5,500 for a Fine Cause
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
Vegreville Fire Services (VFS) crew was collecting money for Muscular Dystrophy (M.D.) Canada ‘Fill The Boot’ fundraiser on June 22 near Tim Hortons’ parking lot.
Club President Jamieson Brown explained, “This drive is an initiative of the VFS Club. Our club has had a longstanding relationship with M.D. Canada, which has led to the raising of tens of thousands of dollars over the years, thanks to the incredibly generous donations from our community.
According to M.D. Canada, Muscular Dystrophy is a term used to describe over 160 known neuromuscular disorders that affect more than 50,000 Canadians from coast to coast.
War Amps 2024 Key Tags En Route to Vegreville
Vegreville and surrounding area residents will have received their 2024 War Amps key tags in the mail by now. Each key tag has a confidentially coded number. If you lose your keys, the finder can call the toll-free number on the back of the tag or place them in any mailbox, and The War Amps will return them to you by courier, free of charge. The War Amps receives no government grants. With the public’s support of the Key Tag Service, the Association is making a difference in the lives of amputees, including children, by providing financial assistance for the cost of artificial limbs, peer support and information on all aspects of living with amputation.
Those who do not receive their key tags in the mail can order them at waramps.ca or call toll-free 1 800 250-3030.
Fundraiser For a Great Cause
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
Veg Al-Drug Society held a Fundraising Barbeque at Vegreville and District Co-op on June 15. Program Supervisor Colleen Pidzarko-Armitage explained, “The reason we fundraise is that we are a not-for-profit, registered charity that is contracted by Alberta Health Services.
Unfortunately, contracted services providers of Alberta Health Services are often underfunded for the services we provide. For example, our agency is not funded by Alberta Health Services to provide Addiction Prevention and Mental Health Promotion yet we have been providing these services in the schools and communities for the past several years because it is an important part of the continuum of recovery services and much needed in our communities.
By fundraising, we can help offset the costs associated with providing these services. As with most not-for-profit organizations, costs to provide these services continue to rise and fundraising helps to offset those costs as well.
We serve youth and adults, individuals and/or families with substance use-related disorders, concurrent disorders, and gambling behaviors.
We offer outpatient counseling and treatment, a recovery coach, addiction prevention and mental health promotion.”
$1,000 Raised for Long-Standing Hall
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
The Warwick Hall is a long-standing organization. Its members hosted a traditional summer lunch of hot dogs at Vegreville and District Co-op offered on June 28.
Secretary and Treasurer Derek Fox explained, “The Warwick Hall was built in 1936 and has been used by many in our community for meetings and various functions ever since. We currently have 48 family members. We do our best to keep the hall in good shape and available. The money raised will cover about three months of operating expenses. We are grateful to the Co-op, Peggy Lobay for recruiting and organizing the volunteers, and everyone who helped.”
Music on Wheels
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
The 51st Pysanka Festival ushered in on July 4 with the Touring Concert of The Broken Banjos Band who traveled with a flatbed trailer to all five Senior Citizens Living Facilities in Vegreville, drove through Main Street, and closed with a mini-concert at Vegreville Elks/Kinsmen Park.
This band performed melodic traditional Ukrainian folk songs and some catchy and energetic tunes on Ukrainian folk instruments where the band members and what instruments they played were Rick Wacko (Bayan -button accordion), Phil Sembaliuk (Tsymbaly - hammer dulcimer, Natalie Prytuluk (bubon drum, percussion, sopilka), Debbie Koper (mandolin), Chris Koper (mandolin), Leanne Koziak (bandura)
Taras Taciuk (Sopilka - wooden flute).
Their biography reads: Broken Banjos are a group of former Ukrainian dancers (Cheremosh and Shumka) from Edmonton, Alberta, who have been friends for decades. They joined together in 2019 to celebrate their love of music and to play traditional Ukrainian folk songs on Ukrainian folk instruments.
On why they enjoy playing for seniors, Prytulak admitted, “Music is a way of connecting us across borders and generations.
For the seniors here in Vegreville, many are from Ukrainian roots and were immigrants, or children of immigrants, who settled on farmland in this area; playing music that is reminiscent of songs they learned during their childhoods or adult years is a beautiful way to connect to their past, rekindle memories, and bring joy to their hearts. It brings us great joy to see people singing along to our music, smiling and clapping to the beat, or even getting up and dancing! It is heartwarming to see the staff get involved too. Music heals the soul, and we hope that by bringing our music to these beautiful people who have worked hard during their lifetime, and have likely been through many difficult times, we can bring peace and happiness. What we receive in return, is priceless.”
