News Advertiser PAGE 11
www. NewsAdvertiser.com
may 5, 2021
Warrior Spirit Guides Be Brave Ranch Advocate
Be Brave Ranch advocate Donna MacDonald-Saskiw. (Donna MacDonald Saskiw/Submitted Photo)
Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Little Warriors Be Brave Ranch Child Sexual Abuse Centre provides specialized and intensive treatment for children between the ages of 8-16. Little Warriors Be Brave Ranch was the brainchild of Glori Meldrum, who founded the Alberta based organization in 2005. She was inspired to help all children who had been sexually abused because of her past experience as a survivor of child sexual abuse. Innisfree area resident Donna MacDonald Saskiw is a survivor of sexual abuse and has been a strong advocate for the charitable organization for the past two years. “Two years ago my second oldest brother (Hal MacDonald) turned 60 and he did a fundraiser. 60X60@60. He’s a black belt in jujutsu and an instructor so he did a fundraiser and he raised over $70,000 for the Be Brave Ranch and I came forward to the media with my story. He did it in my honour and for all the little warriors. So, through this I met Glori Meldrum, the founder, who is also a survivor. We became friends. She’s the sister that I never had. She is my shepherd and I am her lamb.” Donna says, “I wouldn’t have done this without my husband Darrell.” Her children have also played a key role during her journey. She calls herself a “blessed survivor” because she received support from her mother and father, four brothers, as well as Margo McFarlene, Bryon Butt, and Heather Hill, who were all instrumental in her survival before she met her husband at the age of 19. “Some children don’t get this support.
They are raped by their father or brother. They are not believed. Some of these children are disowned by their families. It’s an epidemic. But no one wants to talk about it. Nobody stands up for our children and I am just done with it. I need to be their voice. This is helping me heal, but I’m doing it for all the kids who don’t have a voice. They need to have a voice. These kids need to know that they matter. And this ranch, it provides healing for them…With early intervention they’ll become productive citizens. They won’t grow up with PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) anxiety, depression, eating disorders, alcoholism, drug abuse, OCD, (Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour).”
Village of Innisfree Community Wide Garage Sales
May 8. 2021 9:00 to 4:00 Maps available at garage locations Covid-19 best practices in place
Vegreville & District Chamber of Commerce GM
Date: May 12, 2021
Via Zoom
Time: 12 to 1
Guest speaker: Charles St-Arnaud; Chief Economist at Credit Union Central Alberta Please register by emailing: vegchamb@telus.net or by calling 780-632-2771
Little Warriors Be Brave Ranch Founder Glori Meldrum, Hal MacDonald, and Donna MacDonald-Saskiw. (Donna MacDonald Saskiw/Submitted Photo)
She went on to say, “One in three girls and one in six boys are abused with 95 percent of the time that being by a trusted person. There’s a huge stigma that comes with this. Huge. And it’s time to lift the rug. And it’s gone up 250 percent with Covid because the children are stuck at home with their abusers. “We need to have our governments step in and give funding. At least for beds.” Donna says Be Brave Ranch does not receive any government funding. It costs $4.2 million annually to operate the facility. It costs $25,000 per child for one year’s worth of therapy. Little Warriors Be Brave Ranch is currently hosting an online auction which has more than 75 items up for bid until 3 pm on May 6. Donna says, “Every donation, no matter how big or small, it all helps the children. Last year I did a bottle drive and I was able to donate over $6,000. And that’s not just me that’s community. I mean I was walking up and down the ditches picking bottles, but I had an enormous amount of people donating bottles. So, it continued. People were still sending me money and this year I came up with the idea to take the bottle money and donate it back to small businesses. Because of Covid they’re struggling.” She said residents and businesses in the communities of Vegreville, Innisfree, Mannville, Vermilion, Viking, and Irma have rallied behind her and donated to the cause.”
TIMED ONLINE REAL ESTATE AUCTION FOR MARLIS MUCH, MUNDARE, AB
D IRECTIONS : 80
KMS . EAST OF EDMONTON ON YELLOWHEAD HWY 16, TO MUNDARE CORNER , TURN OFF TO SALE SITE , GOLF COURSE AREA
Wednesday, May 19/21 @ 5 P.M. BIDDING OPENS ON M AY 12 @10 A.M. TO C LOSING M AY 19 @ 5 P.M. You Must Register with wwwliveauction world.com (Ph. 1-866-313-0123)
Lots:
Foot Clinic with Dr. Chaudhry Providing services for……
Foot pain Bunions Ingrown Toenails Diabetic Foot Care Warts Chronic Pain
and many other Common foot problems!
He will be at the St. Joseph's Hospital
May 19, 2021, June 9, 2021 and
July 21, 2021 Call the hospital to book an appointment.
780-632-2811
Hearing Evaluations Vegreville Clinic
May 13 & May 27 , 2021 - 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. By Appointment Only Senior Citizens Sunshine Club - 4630 - 49 Street
1: *39 White Tail Green Lot 2 Block 52, Plan 0628190. 2020 Taxes $824.56 2: *18 White Tail Drive Lot 9 Block 55 Plan 0628190. 2020 Taxes $815.61
PLEASE NOTE: TOWN OF MUNDARE HAS OTHER BUILDING INCENTIVES IF BUILDING IS WITHIN
3 YRS. CALL TOWN OFFICE @ 1-780-764-3929
FOR DETAILS.
Real Estate is being handled by: Marcel Blais Broker c/o Canadian Real Estate Services, Legal AB. Ph. Bus. (780) 961-3500 or Cell No. (780)720-5299 Sale Terms : Starting Bid $13,000 followed by Increments of $500 per lot. Additional $375.00 per lot internet fee which will be added to the final Sale Price. Successful buyer is required to put down $5,000 Non-refundable Deposit & Payable to Canadian Real Estate Services by Bank Draft or ETransfer once bids close. Possession is approx. 30 days. Legal Fees, Tax Adjustments, Any G.S.T. Payable are the Purchasers Responsibility.
ANDRUCHOW AUCTIONS LTD.
LICENSED AND BONDED SINCE 1974 LIC. # 193828 PH/FAX 780-456-1210 CELL 780-918-8285 EDMONTON www.andruchowauctions.ca
“We are an AADL, WCB, NIHB, DVA provider”.
South Edmonton 5530 - 111 St, Edmonton, A B
1-888-335-8205
