march 11, 2020
News Advertiser PAGE 21
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New Basketball Program Launches for Youth at Library Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent The Vegreville Centennial Library now has a new after school drop-in basketball program on Wednesday afternoons for students from Grade 6-12. The Vegreville Centennial Library is hosting this program in partnership with the Town of Vegreville. Anya Langkow, Co-ordinator for Tourism, Recreation, and Culture said Michael van der Torre, Manager for Parks, Recreation and Facilities and Donna Williams, Manager of the Vegreville Centennial Library collaborated to bring this basketball program to life. Langkow said this basketball program gives children and youth the opportunity to come and engage in a free drop-in basketball, register for an indoor sport, stay active when the
weather isn’t cooperating or when there isn’t another option for them. “We are beginning with this basketball program. We just opened the doors and we had three kids who were ready to come in and several were picking up one time waivers to take home for their parents or guardians to sign which is required before they can participant. In the future, we hope to expand to other sports on other days and perhaps even in the evening we will offer drop-in activities for adults. “I feel there are a lot of skills participants will gain from this basketball program; they get the opportunity to get active and be fit, work on basketball skills in a casual and non pressured setting, and the opportunity to be around friends and be social in a positive active way,” stated Langkow.
Library Manager Donna Williams said this program is something that came out in the town’s recreation and culture master plan and their strategic plan, and the library’s needs assessment and inclusive study last year which indicated the town needs to have recreational opportunities that are affordable for youth in the community. “For these reasons, this is something we are trying to develop and basketball is where we are starting with and then we will look at other potential sports that we could offer youth as a drop-in intramural type of thing. We will start with youth and we already have the equipment here so there is no reason why we can’t have adult drop-in similar to what we do with pickle ball or the walking group,” explained Williams.
Kids practice their skills at basketball. (Rosanne Fortier/photo)
About Highways Peter McArthur Common Sense When I was working with the Survey Crew on Highway 36, Section B, Subsection 1; Viking to east of Lavoy in 1953 I learned a lot about highways. That section of Highway 36 terminated at Highway 16; which was then a Standard Gravel Base Highway running east from Edmonton; in a line much like today. Then the by-passing of Mundare and and the by-passing of Vegreville was being planned. Previously the Highway was routed through Towns; passing along the same route that the by-pass into Vegreville now follows; then it headed east; taking a new line further south of Mannville and Vermilion. Since Highway 16; the Yellowhead Connection; for a Trans-Canada Highway was being planned; It was the Hon. Don Mazankowski, Federal Minister of Highways (with whom I played shinny under the street lights in Viking much earlier) that had been interested in the importance of a DIVIDED HIGHWAY 16; and Maz (as he was better known) wanted to insure that Vegreville would retain good Highway Access as the highway was to by-pass Vegreville; in much the same way as it was to by-pass Mannville and Vermilion. Maz; as he was known by one and all; sought out opinions from every level and when the decision to build the glorious OVERPASS ACCESS to Vegreville was announced; many thought it was too costly; many thought that Vegreville would lose a lot due to the traffic loss when so many would just by-pass Vegreville; resulting in too much business loss by the Town. Each argument had its fair share of supporters; but one of the greatest things to come of it was the quick and easy access for all traffic; in and out of Vegreville. I’m sure that Maz had the wisdom and conviction to see that the necessary overpasses were properly placed and built at a time when we still had Road Contraction Crews anxious to build this Province; it was a time when Vegreville was blessed with the solid
support of the Honorable Mr. Don Mazankowski; as a Federal Member of Parliament; a man whom each of us were at ease with; as he was looking out for the future. The same common sense prevailed when the Immigration Office found its way into Vegreville; perhaps the most deserving community for the said offices; where else in this Province might there be such clear understanding of Immigrant Problems; as would be found in Vegreville; yet somehow the big city; where everyone can get lost at the next set of lights; and no one can speak the language of the Immigrant; lost in more ways than one! Of course we need a little more common sense like Maz displayed. How many residents can remember the old Highway 16; prior to the improved By-pass and Convenient Access provided to Vegreville; just jot down the businesses added to Vegreville since that Highway Project was done and imagine
if you can; doing without the many added services to the community. Such progress makes a great deal of common sense; looking back; yet up front it required a lot of good management and co-operation. Peter McArthur based on Historical Knowledge gleaned over many years.
